Nadeem Ghauri becomes the latest umpire found guilty of cheating.
Pakistan cricket authorities have banned international umpire Nadeem Ghauri for four years after a sting operation by an Indian television channel found him willing to spot-fix.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the ban after the private India TV channel aired footage in October in which a number of umpires faced questions from undercover reporters asking if they would give decisions in return for cash.
Ghauri, 50, is a former international player, who officiated in five Tests, 43 one-day and four Twenty20 internationals. The PCB also banned domestic first-class umpire Anis Siddiqui for three years.
The PCB said in a statement that Ghauri “straight away agreed to extend undue favours for material gains, therefore, he cannot be cleared to officiate matches for a period of four years”.
However, it noted that Siddiqui “resisted their undue demands repeatedly, but finally conceded to them on their persistence”.
The umpires caught up in the sting including the two from Pakistan, three from Sri Lanka and Nadir Shah of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board last month banned Shah, an international umpire, for ten years after he appeared to show he was willing to give lbw decisions on demand.
All the umpires were immediately suspended by their respective countries on the instructions of the International Cricket Council (ICC) pending inquiry.
“Today’s decision reiterates the commitment of the PCB to keep our great sport free of all corrupt practices,” the PCB statement said after reaching a decision during a meeting of the integrity committee.
The allegations were broadcast only days after the final of the World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka.
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