Daily Times

LAHORE: Opening batsman Nasir Jamshed has challenged the provisional suspension imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for his alleged links with the Pakistan Super League II spot-fixing scandal. Nasir’s counsel Hassan Iqbal Warraich on Monday wrote to the chairman of the PCB’s disciplinary panel, challenging the provisional suspension and terming the letter of suspension as “impugned letter”. The counsel for Nasir questioned the provision that was used for the suspension, arguing that it was a “harsh and oppressive step to the detriment of his fundamental rights.” Nasir was suspended by the PCB on February 13 after the scandal came into limelight.

Nasir, who is based in England, was arrested and subsequently released on bail by the UK’s National Crime Agency in relation to the case, a day after the PCB had suspended him. It was reportedly said that Nasir introduced an alleged bookie to the players.

“My client challenges the impugned letter on the grounds that the impugned letter is not only harsh but is an oppressive step to the detrimental of fundamental rights of my client guaranteed in the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” Warraich wrote in the letter addressed to chairman of the PCB’s disciplinary panel. The letter has also accused the PCB of misusing and bulldozing its own anti-corruption code while suspending Nasir. “The PCB, while provisionally suspending my client, has not only misused but also bulldozed the very intent of article 4.7.1 of the anti-corruption code,” the letter says. The letter adds that Nasir was never charged for the corruption and there were no exceptional grounds available for the PCB to suspend him. “It is also pertinent to mention here that the impugned letter does not carry even a single ground justifying the suspension of my client,” it reads. The PCB, after suspending Nasir in February, charged him in April for violating clauses 2.4.6 and 2.4.7, both linked with non-cooperation with the investigations.

Meanwhile, proceedings continued in Khalid Latif’s hearing, without the attendance of Latif or his lawyer. The PCB continued to present its case against him to the three-man tribunal and is expected to complete their case by Tuesday. Latif and his lawyer walked out of the hearings in protest on Saturday and continue to boycott the proceedings.