ICC pull umpire Rauf from Champions Trophy

Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf has been withdrawn by the ICC from officiating in the upcoming Champions Trophy in England following media reports that indicated he was under investigation by Mumbai Police.

"In the wake of reports that the Mumbai Police are conducting an investigation into Asad Rauf's activities, we feel that it is in Asad's best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the ICC Champions Trophy," Dave Richardson, the ICC chief executive, said in a statement on Thursday.

The ICC did not mention what the Mumbai Police were reportedly investigating Rauf for, and said it had no further comment to make. Rauf has been in India, officiating in the IPL, and so the PCB said it had "no role to play" and "nothing to do" with the development.

"He [Rauf] is an ICC umpire and was officiating in an Indian event with the consent and approval of the ICC, and whatever has happened it's on Indian soil," the PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said. "We were only informed of his withdrawal by the ICC. We have no clue about what has happened and we have no control.

"In our next board meeting we are going to formulate a code for umpires and anyone found violating the code will be punished. So if BCCI wants our support we are happy to extend our help to them."