Police refuse to confirm Asad Rauf investigation

Mumbai: Police said on Friday said they were “investigating all the angles” in the Indian spot-fixing scandal but refused to confirm if they were targeting top Pakistani umpire Assad Rauof.

Rauof was withdrawn from next month’s Champions Trophy in England amid media reports that he is under police investigation for spot-fixing, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

Police in the Indian city of Mumbai would not confirm whether the umpire was being investigated as part of the probe which has led to the arrests of three Indian cricketers, including Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, and 11 bookmakers.

A police official said “we are investigating all the angles”, adding that Rauof “has not been called in for interrogation”.

The ICC said the decision to withdraw Rauof was made after media reports on Wednesday stated that the Mumbai police were conducting an investigation into the umpire’s activities.