Daily Times

LAHORE: An independent adjudicator on Wednesday waived Rs one million fine imposed on disgraced cricketer Khalid Latif for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing, but upheld the five-year ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The former Islamabad United opener was punished for taking part in a spot-fixing scandal during the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which rocked Pakistan cricket last year. Adjudicator Justice (r) Faqir Mohammad Khokhar upheld the ban, saying there was “overwhelming” evidence against Khalid, but waived the fine as his career was almost over. Khalid represented Pakistan in five ODIs and 13 T20Is, where he collectively scored 384 runs, courtesy two half centuries. His last T20I was against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi in September 2016. Khalid will be 36 by the time his ban ends, with the chances of making a domestic comeback greatly reduced, and an international one almost out of the question.

The right-handed top-order batsman had faced six charges, including that of persuading or attempting to persuade three other cricketers – Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Sharjeel Khan – to get involved in spot-fixing. The reports of the cricketers’ misdoing had surfaced on the opening day of the PSL II in Dubai. The 32-year-old faced troubled times during the hearing of the case where his lawyer, on numerous occasions, criticised the anti-corruption tribunal formed by the PCB. After the verdict was announced, Khalid’s lawyer, Badar Alam, had said since the PCB did not file any appeal to enhance the punishment given to Khalid by the PCB ACT, his client was confident about fighting his case.

Spot-fixing involves determining the outcome of a specific part of a match rather than the overall result, and is therefore harder to detect than match-fixing. Sharjeel was also banned for five years – two and a half years suspended – and his appeal was rejected last November. Paceman Irfan and spinner Mohammad Nawaz were banned for one year and two months respectively for not reporting fixing offers. Another former opener Nasir Jamshed – alleged to have played a role as coordinator in the PSL fixing deal – was banned for one year for not cooperating with the inquiry.

The decision against another international player, Shahzaib, was reserved and will be announced on Saturday. Pakistan cricket has long been tainted by allegations of spot-fixing. The most infamous incident came on the 2010 tour of England, when then-captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were all given prison sentences for conspiring to bowl deliberate no-balls in the fourth Test at Lord’s.

“Khalid has been found guilty on all charges,” a PCB spokesman told reporters after the verdict. “This is a vindication of what the PCB had been saying. He met bookies twice, and the second time, when he took Sharjeel along with him, provided conclusive proof of his guilt. The PCB does not take pleasure from meting out punishment to any cricketer, but the law must be upheld. We need to rid ourselves of corrupt cricketers like these. I hope all other cricketers learn a lesson from this case. If anyone is even thinking of indulging in corrupt practices, they should banish the thought. And if anyone is illicitly approached, they must report it immediately,” the spokesman added.

A domestic veteran who made his debut 17 years ago when he was still 14, Latif has never quite been able to make the grade at international level. He was a rising star on the Under-19 circuit, captaining the Pakistan side to a World Cup win in 2004. He was called up to the ODI side in 2008, but played just five games over two years. He has not been able to find much more consistency in T20Is.

Published in Daily Times, February 1^st 2018.