Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has had his eight-year ban, which included a three-year suspended sentence, reduced to a five-year term by the BCB's disciplinary panel chief, former justice Mohammed Abdur Rashid.
The crest-fallen Bangladesh batting genius, whose reduced sanction now effective from August 13, 2013, stands a chance to return to cricket on August 13, 2016, provided he obtains a certificate of “good conduct from the ICC” to get the benefit of the revised “last two years” suspended sentence. Ashraful will turn 32 by then.
“I'm extremely happy. I can return to the game a lot sooner now. It is true that I deserved the punishment but this will be good for my future,” Ashraful said as an immediate reaction after his appeal verdict yesterday.
Ashraful, who was found guilty of fixing games during the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League, had appealed to the disciplinary panel chief in July this year, asking that the ban he received a month earlier be reduced.
However, the disciplinary panel chief upheld the fine of Taka 10 lakh slapped on Ashraful by the Anti-Corruption Tribunal (ACT).
The disciplinary panel chief also upheld the 10-year (3-year suspended) ban on Shihab Chowdhury, the managing director of Dhaka Gladiators, for his involvement in fixing. However, a fine of Taka 20 lakh has been withdrawn.
The disciplinary chief also imposed a 10-year ban on Selim Chowdhury, one of the owners of Dhaka Gladiators, following a joint appeal by the BCB and ACSU. Selim Chowdhury, the father of Shihab, was earlier acquitted of fixing charges along with six others due to insufficient evidence.      
The ACT conducted a trail of nine individuals including seven players following an expensive probe conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of International Cricket Council. It convicted Ashraful and Shihab for their involvement in match-fixing. Two other players -- Sri Lankan Kaushal Lokuarachchi and New Zealander Lou Vincent -- were found guilty of failing to report an approach and were handed 18-months and three years ban respectively.
The ACT in its verdict in June this year also observed that the ACSU had not only failed to produce credible evidence and strong witnesses but also committed an offence by allowing a fixed-game to be played during the 2013 BPL.