Ashraful appeals eight-year ban

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has filed an appeal to have his eight-year ban shortened, after he was sent packing by the Bangladesh Cricket Board for match fixing in the domestic T20 tournament.

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has filed an appeal to have his eight-year ban shortened, after he was sent packing by the Bangladesh Cricket Board for match fixing in the domestic T20 tournament.

Ashraful was found guilty of corruption in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2013 and thus banned, while Dhaka Gladiators director Shihab Chowdhury was also banned, but for 10 years. Both have appealed their suspensions.

Ashraful said: "My lawyer has sent the appeal papers to the disciplinary committee's chief. I want to return to cricket before my eight-year ban is up. That's why I have made the appeal."

The appeal was sent to retired justice Mohammad Abdur Rashid, who is the disciplinary panel's head, and will have to decided if the pair should serve out their ban.

If he rules that they must, they can take their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland for further appeals.

The original investigation by the BCB saw a number of players let off after being suspected of corruption, while former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent was accused of failing to report suspicious bookie activity.

The ICC have decided to appeal the tribunal's findings, saying they have not taken all the evidence into account and have let players off scott free when they should have been banned.

The ICC said: "In the ICC's view, clear and compelling evidence of corruption by a number of individuals have not been taken into account properly.

"Having now had the opportunity to review the detailed decision in its entirety and taken advice on it, we believe that we have very strong grounds on which we can base our appeal.

"We do not believe that the sport would be sending the right message if it does not challenge what, in our opinion, are incorrect findings."

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