Ashraful admits to fixing, apologises

Dhaka (PTI): Bangladesh cricketer Mohammad Ashraful on Tuesday "apologised" to his nation after admitting his involvement in fixing matches, adding another sordid chapter to the spot-fixing saga which has already engulfed Indian cricket. "Forgive me," Ashraful told reporters at his residence as he confessed his involvement in match and spot fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League. "I would only plead that you all forgive me for my wrongdoings against the nation and myself," Ashraful, Bangladesh's most talked-about batsman, added. Bangladesh Cricket Board had already ordered Ashraful to temporarily stay away from cricketing activity pending an ACSU investigation into the alleged match and spot fixing scandal in the BPL. More than a fortnight after the spot-fixing scandal broke out in the IPL, Ashraful's suspension is the latest case of corruption in cricket which has seen a number of cricketers being arrested in recent times.

"As Ashraful has confessed his involvement in fixing to the ACSU team, so he should not be allowed to play any level of cricket until we get a full report of the investigation," Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan told reporters. The International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has been probing allegations of match-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League. The 28-year-old Ashraful was allegedly paid about one million taka (USD 12,800) to lose the February 2 match between Dhaka Gladiators and Chittagong Kings. The cheque he was given later bounced, according to the local media.