Take my DNA tests, am faithful to my wife: Asad Rauf

By Bipin Dani

MUMBAI (TheSportsNext) August 16, 2012: Asad Rauf, the ICC's Elite Panel Pakistani umpire, is willing to give DNA tests.

Speaking exclusively with TheSportsNext over telephone from Lahore, he said, "If the Indian model (Leena Kapoor) is claiming that I had ever sex with her, let the DNA tests prove it".

"In my more than 25-years of marriage life with Lubna, I have remained faithful to her", the 56-year-old Rauf, the father of two sons, Fahad and Zaid added.

The umpire, however, didn't rule out his meeting with Leena Kapoor. "I don't deny my pictures with her. As a fan she requested me to be with her".

"She wanted to use my contacts to appear in the "Big Boss" TV reality show. She was desperate and wanted to appear in the show by any way. But, the show’s organisers said that they do not accept entries via recommendations/references, so I ended contact with her [Kapoor],” he said.

"I have been working with the ICC for ten years and could not buy my own luxurious flat (he claims to have a small flat in Lahore), how could I have promised a flat, and that too in city like Mumbai, where the prices are rocket-high".

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will investigate the purpose of Indian model Leena Kapoor's alleged visit to Sri Lanka, it is learnt here. According to the sources, the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) will be liasioning with the Mumbai police and try to find out whether she has been keeping contacts with any Sri Lankan players. 

The model, Leena Kapoor, in her written complaint to a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), had alleged that she had met the former cricketer in Sri Lanka a few months back after which they spent a few days together.

Recently, The Sunday Times carried out a sting operation on a Delhi based bookie based on some allegations that the ICC World Cup 2011 semi-final between India and Pakistan was fixed. In its claim, a Hindi film actress, Nupur Mehta was indicated to have been used to lure cricketers.

"I have forwarded her complaint to the Versowa police station and directed the department to record her statement", the DCP, Pratap Dighavkar said. "Both parties involved in this case will be called for recording the statement", he further said. 

Rauf's immediate ICC assignment is likely to be in the forthcoming ODIs between Pakistan and Australia in UAE. He may be asked to officiate also in India's matches against England later this year.

"An Indian model, Leena Kapoor has been seeking "cheap publicity", Asad Rauf said. "What more can you expect from her?", he concluded.