Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues its large-scale investigation into alleged involvement of Cricketers in match fixing during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) in United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In a series of twitter messages on Saturday, the PSL Chairman Najam Sethi confirmed that the PCB Anti-Corruption Unit has questioned Islamabad United’s Muhammad Irfan, Quetta Gladiators’ Zulfiqar Babar and Karachi Kings’ Shahzaib Hasan Khan regarding the match fixing or whether had they been approached by the bookies.
The PSL Chairman said that these players will continue to play in HBL PSL 2017; however, he said that PCB ACU will remain vigilant and continue to protect Pakistan Super League from the menace of corruption.
Last night, the PCB provisionally suspended Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif from the PSL 2017 following an investigation which confirmed their involvement in suspicious activities.
Subsequently, both the players were sent back to Pakistan and according to the PCB, they will remain suspended from PSL 2017 till investigation against them gets accomplished.
Sources said that both Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif set Rs 400,000 to Rs 500,000 per match deals with bookies.
Certainly, it will cause Pakistan’s suffering in future immensely but right now, Islamabad United will be the most affected PSL Franchise as both the suspended players are part of PSL Defending Champion.
Earlier sources claimed that 10 players including Lahore Qalandars’ Umar Akmal, Zulfiqar Babar and Shahzaib Hasan Khan are also in the PCB radar and an investigation supported by the International Cricket Council (ICC) is being carried out into their alleged involvement in the issue.
Nop.. 3 players suspended.. Zulfiqar Babar and Umar Akmal are speculated names as per the inside sources.. no confirmations as yet.. https://t.co/jaeEu615W7
— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) February 11, 2017
Zulfiqar babar also being uestioned by acu today
— waheedkhan (@waheedkhan) February 10, 2017
Sources say phone calls also intercepted between players and contact person
— waheedkhan (@waheedkhan) February 10, 2017
سٹے بازوں سے رابطے کے شبے میں 10کھلاڑیوں کیخلاف تحقیقات،ذرائع
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) February 11, 2017
Sources said that Shahzaib Hasan Khan was also interrogated last night by the investigators, and he is believed to be close friend of Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif.
In a statement following the suspension of Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif yesturday, the PSL Chairman Najam Sethi expressed the resolve to have zero tolerance towards corruption, said that and if more players are found guilty, they will also face the same fate.
PSL has zero tolerance for practices that corrupt or damage the game. No one big or small is exempt. We shall protect this asset of Pak.
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 10, 2017
