DHAKA: Former Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful who is currently serving a five-year ban for match fixing has confessed to match fixing in the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL), reports Daily Mirror.

Ashraful had made a witness statement on May 23 of 2013 to the Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the ICC confirming that he had been involved in fixing the SLPL Match between Ruhunu Royals and Wayamba United played on August 26, 2012.

The fixing issue has then created a major storm in SLC following information that SLC President Jayantha Dharmadasa had agreed with ICC at the ICC Board meeting in November 2014 to refrain from taking further action on evidence provided by Ashraful.

However, the Mirror, quoting “a source” also said, “The issue here is that Ashraful cannot fix a match alone. There must be others, possibly local players involved.”

In June 2014, Ashraful admitted meeting his main fixing link in Sri Lanka during the SLPL and fixing matches in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) while playing for his team Dhaka Gladiators.

Ashraful was initially banned for eight years, but later the ban was reduced by ICC to five years, two of which are suspended, meaning that it will effectively be only for three years.

The reduction of the ban came after Ashraful had taken the matter to the International Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

BDST: 2127 HRS, JAN 01, 2015