KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
A top Kashmiri physio presently working with the Nepal cricket team has been accused of sexual assault in a Northern Ireland hotel.
Doctor Aijaz Bashir Ashai, hired during the Nepalese team’s 15-day preparation tour of India for the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, has been charged with “touching a hotel masseuse in a sexual manner without her consent”.
The masseuse alleged that Dr Ashai had asked for a full body massage, and despite having been instructed to wear underpants, he attended without them.
Ashai’s lawyer has admitted that his client attended the massage but denied he grabbed the masseuse’s hands, or that he was “aroused” during treatment.
Reports said Dr Ashai appeared at the Ards Magistrates Court on Wednesday after spending a night in custody.
Over his conduct, he has been sacked by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
Described as “an expert in the field of advanced physiotherapy” by his LinkedIn profile, Ashai has been granted bail for £2,500 on the condition the Nepalese team lodge a cash surety and also that he reside at the Strangford Arms, make no contact with witnesses, report to police three times a week and give up his passport. The matter has been adjourned to August 12, the report added.
Dr Ashai’s expertise is highly sought after in the sports world. He has aided famous personalities like cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar, tennis players Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and squash player Ritwick Bhattacharya.
Currently he is the Head Physiotherapist for the celebrity cricket league (Mumbai Heroes), Indian Rugby Team, the West Zone Deodhar Cricket Team and the Chairman of Auxiliary Committee of Indian Association of Physiotherapy. He is the Head of Department of Advance Physiotherapy at Saifee hospital, Mumbai. He also runs his own fitness and sports rehabilitation centre in Mumbai.
