Lawyer: Accused umpire Rauf won't travel to India

ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf will not be appearing in an Indian court after Mumbai police charged him for being involved in the spot-fixing scandal during this year's Indian Premier League.

Rauf's legal adviser, Syed Ali Zafar, said in Lahore on Friday he has faith in Indian courts but has no confidence in Mumbai police.

A Mumbai court will hear the case on Nov. 21. Rauf, accused of accepting expensive gifts from illegal bookmakers, is among 22 people charged.

"The situation is not right for Asad Rauf in India," Zafar said. "(Mumbai police) could detain him or they can frame other charges against him."

Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of Board of Control for Cricket in India president Narainswamy Srinivasan, is also charged. Meiyappan is accused of being in touch with illegal bookies.

The spot-fixing scandal in the IPL surfaced in May when Rajasthan Royals players were arrested for allegedly giving away more than a specified number of runs in return for money. They have been charged.

The International Cricket Council withdrew Rauf from the Champions Trophy, and he is no longer on the panel of elite umpires.

But Rauf, who was accompanied by his lawyer at Friday's news conference, said he informed the ICC last year he would be stepping down from the international panel in 2013 and it has nothing to do with the spot-fixing scandal in the IPL.

Mumbai police have allegedly linked the accused actor Vindoo Dara Singh and Rauf through a recorded telephone conversation.

"We don't have tapes (of the conversation) and we don't know in which context the conversation was held," Zafar said. "It looks like they have picked up parts of the conversation and have alleged Asad Rauf."

Mumbai police also took two bags from Rauf that they said included gifted apparel, shoes and other accessories.

Rauf said he knew the bags' contents and there was nothing exceptional.

"I challenge Mumbai police to open the bags in court ... produce expensive watches and gold and show it to the whole world," he said. "I can tell the weight and color of the bags. There's some religious things which were gifted to me and it's most important to me."

Rauf said he has provided all of his bank account details to the ICC anti-corruption unit and even all the details of his phone sim cards which he used while officiating abroad.

Zafar said if the ICC again asked Rauf to appear before its anti-corruption unit, he would be available.