Asad Rauf to give his version to prove innocence

Asad Rauf, who is under a cloud of suspicion after the emergence of the spot fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League, will address a press conference on Wednesday to give his version of the story.

Karachi: Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf, who is under a cloud of suspicion after the emergence of the spot fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League, will address a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday to give his version of the story.

Sources close to Rauf said that he had finally got permission from the ICC to talk to the media. "Since returning from India he has remained out of sight and avoided the media but now he will finally give his side of the story to prove his innocence," Rauf`s manager, Shahzad said. Rauf, who has supervised 48 Tests and 98 One-day internationals and is on the ICC elite panel, was withdrawn from the ICC Champions Trophy after his name emerged in the IPL fixing scandal. He briefly spoke to the media at a function held in his hometown where he insisted he was innocent and clean. "I am not allowed to speak to the media because of ICC code of conduct for its umpires but I want to give my story," he told reporters. Rauf said since returning from India the media had set up camp outside his residence and it was unfortunate that without any evidence his name was being dragged into the scandal. "If anyone has any evidence he should come forward with it instead of these insinuations in the media," he added. The Indian media today quoted sources in the Mumbai police as saying that they were working on sending a notice to Rauf to appear for questioning after they had found he had links with bookmakers. The PCB has said it was planning to introduce contract system for umpires to make them more accountable and answerable to the board. PTI