“I knew that I would be punished from the moment I confessed”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Disgraced Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has admitted that he doesn’t have any regrets about confessing what he did after receiving an eight-year ban.

Ashraful conceded that he had been involved in match-fixing during the 2013 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

“I don’t have any regret confessing what I did,” Ashraful told ESPNcricinfo. “I knew that I would be punished from the moment I confessed. The only thing that could have happened was probably a lesser punishment. Maybe they could have cut down a year or two. Or they could have given me a chance to play domestic cricket. Otherwise it becomes hard to survive without playing cricket.

“I just wanted to come out clean the next time I play cricket. I didn’t think about whether they [the ACSU] did a good or a bad job. I just wanted to come out with it.”

Despite being banned for eight years, Ashraful remains hopeful about returning in five.

“I am positive that I can come back to cricket after five years. I have already served one year,” Ashraful said. I will be appealing after I receive the full judgment, having consulted my legal representatives.”