A loss of pride for Bangladesh: Mushfiqur

Mushfiqur Rahim has called Mohammad Ashraful's admission of involvement in match-fixing and spot-fixing as a "loss of pride" for the Bangladesh cricket team.

The news of the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit's (ACSU) investigation and Ashraful's confession was a big shock, the Tigers' captain told ESPNcricinfo.

"Our pride was in the knowledge that none of our players are involved in such things," he said.

"I felt bad at first. I couldn't believe it. Afterwards, if you talk about the reality the investigation is still ongoing but when I heard it from him, I felt worse," he added.

"Taking the BPL matches aside, when I heard about the international matches, I felt it was unusual and unbelievable," Mushfiqur further said.

"A few of our players got offers but said no, so hats off to them. It was a matter of pride that whether we played badly, nobody was in this business. The investigation is still ongoing but what has happened is very wrong," the captain rued.

The BCB confirmed last week that three international matches were to be investigated as well after Ashraful reportedly told the ACSU of being involved in corrupt practices in these matches.

Ashraful's confession to the ACSU regarding the international matches involved one match under Mushfiqur's regime as captain.

Mushfiqur told the cricket website that he wanted disciplinary action if Ashraful is found guilty by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after the ICC's ACSU submits its report.

However, he also admitted never being aware of Ashraful's involvement despite playing together for eight years.

"We have been with him for so long, but we never realised what was going on," Mushfiqur said.

"If he is guilty, he should be given punishment. Our younger players should know this is a big crime. You cannot betray a nation, it doesn't matter how big or small a player you are," he added.

However, Mushfiqur said that Ashraful would be welcomed back into the team if he is allowed to play.