ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar Khan Friday said the duo of suspended players Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif had confessed that they had met the bookie.
The PCB chief, who appeared before a panel of the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) chaired by Senator Mushahidullah informed that Islamabad United players Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif and Muhammad Irfan met the bookie named Yousuf during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but they did not inform Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the board.
Shaharyar Khan said according to the evidence obtained by the ACU, Sharjeel followed through on his agreement with the bookie in Islamabad United’s opening match in PSL.
He said the batsman had agreed to play two dot balls during the match in the ongoing league after a deal with the bookie.
Similarly; he said Khalid Latif also admitted to have met the bookie. He (Khalid) was also willing to do the same but he did not play that match, he added.
About Muhammad Irfan he stated that he did not pay attention to the bookie’s instructions but also did not inform the board, hence he was still under investigation.
“As per rule the players were supposed to inform us but they did not do that. Hence, the offence has taken place,” he added.
The PCB chairman informed the committee that when the bookies note that a league was getting popularity they approach players either through their relatives or some former players.
“This is how Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan were approached through Nasir Jamshed,” he said.
“Yousuf (the bookie) met Nasir Jamshed and the two arrived Dubai from London. Nasir told the players that a man wants to see them and he arranged their meeting with him (the bookie),” he said.
He said the board’s ACU was alert as it knew such an incident might take place. “That is why it took a swift action against the players.”
He said now the players were backing out from their earlier statements. “We’ve given them 14 days. If they stick with their fresh statements, their case will be referred to a tribunal,” he said.
Mushahidullah said there should not be any kind of injustice to be taken with the players into the matter.He also said the tribunal should not meet the same fate of Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum commission.
He directed the PCB to ensure that investigations should be held in a transparent manner adding, those found guilty of spot-fixing should be kept away from the board.
Later, talking to media the PCB chief said PSL final would be held in Lahore but it was subject to government’s permission.
He said if the players were involved in spot-fixing they would be given exemplary punishments adding in that case they might face life time ban from the game.
Source: APP
