Daily Times

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday banned fast bowler Mohammad Irfan from all forms of cricket for one year and fined him Rs.10,00,000 ($10,000) after he admitted failing to report approaches by bookmakers linked to spot-fixing. The 34-year-old said he had not spoken out at the time because he was under mental stress following the death of his parents. He can return, however, after six months if he assists the PCB in their ongoing investigations into the Pakistan Super League (PSL) corruption scandal, and if he doesn’t breach the board’s anti-corruption code in that time. His ban is effective from the day he was provisionally suspended on March 14. A PCB spokesman said Irfan was found to be in breach of ‘failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.’

“I accept my mistake,” he told a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium. “I was asked to carry out fixes but I did not commit any such crime. My mistake was not reporting these offers. I confess and say sorry to the fans,” he added. Irfan said: “You all are aware that on March 14, the board called in and suspended me on the basis of two allegations. I accept that it was my fault in the charge that I failed to let the board know when bookies approached me. The PCB’s code of conduct makes it clear that we have to report any such interaction immediately. I am formally asking the nation for their forgiveness and hope that I will be pardoned by them.”

Mohammad Azam, head of the PCB’s anti-corruption unit, said the player’s admission meant he was not required to appear before a tribunal which is set to hear the cases of four other players linked to the scandal. “We believe that Irfan did not engage in any malpractice. And his suspension is based solely on his failure to report the bookies’ offer to PCB’s anti-corruption unit immediately,” added the PCB official.

Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed have all been ensnared in the saga which took place around the PSL held earlier this month in the United Arab Emirates. Azam added that Irfan could be eligible to return from his suspension six months early if he took part in lectures on the importance of anti-corruption laws. Irfan made headlines for his extraordinary height – seven feet and one inch or 216 centimetres – when he made his international debut in 2010 and stands as the tallest-ever player to feature in world cricket. He has so far played four Tests and 20 Twenty20 internationals, but has achieved most success in his 60 one-day internationals, where he has taken 83 wickets at an average of 30.71.

The ban will come as a blow to Irfan as well as to Pakistan. Though he last played for Pakistan in an ODI last September and had been falling out of favour, he was recalled to the ODI squad in January for the series against Australia. He had to return home almost as soon as he arrived, however, following the death of his mother. Rumman Raees and Mohammad Sami took more wickets than him in the PSL this season, but after an uncertain start following his questioning in relation to the corruption investigation, Irfan looked to be bowling somewhere near his best. Instead, he will now have to hit restart after at least a six-month break.

Irfan, along with Shahzaib and Zulfiqar, was initially questioned by the PCB’s anti-corruption unit during the PSL, but was allowed to continue playing in the tournament. Earlier this month, however, Irfan was provisionally suspended from all forms after he was summoned to appear before the anti-corruption committee. Shahzaib, provisionally suspended, is also facing charges of having breached the anti-corruption code of conduct and he has till the end of this week to respond. Meanwhile, Irfan’s Islamabad United team-mates Sharjeel and Khalid are already facing up to a three-man tribunal looking into more serious corruption charges laid against them. Meanwhile, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and PSL chairman Najam Sethi have reiterated the importance for all players to acknowledge their responsibilities and obligations under the PCB anti-corruption code.