Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan Monday said that any cricketer found guilty of corruption should understand that his career was over. Speaking to the media here at Gaddafi Stadium, Shaharyar said that Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, accused of spot-fixing, had been suspended from playing cricket as the board had evidence against them. “However, we do not have any evidence against Mohammad Irfan and Shahzaib Hasan, which is why the PCB has not suspended them,” he added. The PCB chairman said that the tribunal, comprising officials from PCB’s anti-corruption unit, was deliberating over the matter. “The tribunal is a serious matter. Anyone who is found guilty by the tribunal should understand that their career is over.”

When asked whether a lack of education was to be blamed for such practices, Shaharyar said the National Cricket Academy offered classes to educate cricketers. However, he conceded that if the players were better educated, they wouldn’t have used unfair means. “Education is a national issue and we’re trying.” He also said that strict fitness standards would be implemented from here on. “Fitness and fielding should be our number one priority. And that’s where we’re lacking right now,” the PCB chief said, adding that cricketers – regardless of their seniority or expertise – would not be allowed to play if they did not clear a fitness test. “Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur has told me that there are some four or five players who are on the borderline of the fitness test. It is the board’s policy to bar cricketers who fail to meet the minimum fitness requirement from playing. No matter how good of a batsman or a bowler you are, if you fail the minimum fitness requirement, you won’t be permitted to play. We want to set an example for all players – whether in first class cricket or Under-19 or Under 13 – that there will be no compromise on fitness.”

Referring to an incident reported by English batsman Dawid Malan this weekend, when a teenage fan allegedly entered the Peshawar Zalmi dressing room without authorisation, the PCB chief assured the press that an inquiry team was investigating the matter. “Malan is right. These kinds of incidents should not happen and must be prevented from happening in the future,” he asserted. “Fans should never be so close to the dressing room. There are all sorts of people out there and they can act out,” he concluded.