Bangladesh deny bowler Al-Amin Hossain was sent home because of visit to bookmaker

Bangladesh on Tuesday rubbished media reports back home that seamer Al-Amin Hossain had been kicked out of the World Cup for reportedly confessing to meeting an illegal Indian bookmaker.

An official statement issued on Sunday by the team management had said Hossain, 25, was being sent home for breaking curfew rules ahead of Bangladesh’s washed-out match against Australia in Brisbane last weekend.

But the Dhaka-based English language New Age newspaper and other media said Hossain had been under observation by the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) for some time.

However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)’s head of media, Jalal Yunus, insisted the only charge of indiscipline against Hossain was staying out late at night and had nothing to do with any alleged corruption.

“The ACSU has told us they have nothing against Hossain, but we took action because we have a no-tolerance policy for not obeying team orders,” Yunus said. “There is no truth in reports that he was sent home because of alleged links with bookies.”

Media reports said the ACSU had already spoken to Hossain a few days earlier in Canberra when the team were in the Australian capital for their opening match against Afghanistan.