Daily Times

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Monday it would make an example of openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif if found guilty in a corruption probe that threatens to torpedo the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The pair, suspended after being accused of meeting a suspicious person linked to an international betting syndicate, could face up to a life ban from international and domestic cricket under the PCB corruption rules. PCB chief Shaharyar Khan told reporters at a press conference that the board was seeking a ‘deterrent’ punishment if the Islamabad United players, who were sent home from the continuing PSL tournament in the United Arab Emirates, were found guilty of spot-fixing. “The PCB will take a strong stand so that players no longer think they can do something and play after four or five years,” he added.

“The PCB took the lead in the PSL scandal, unlike the time when the International Cricket Council (ICC) had caught three Pakistan players involved in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal,” Shaharyar said, commending the ‘efficiency’ of the PCB’s anti-corruption unit in dealing with last week’s PSL spot-fixing scandal. The scandal saw Sharjeel and Khalid sent back home and a number of other players questioned as part of its investigation. “We took action as soon as we had sufficient evidence. The two boys that were sent back to Pakistan took the same flight as I did and I told them how disappointed I was about their actions. The PCB does not take such scandals lightly,” Shaharyar added.

“Sharjeel and Khalid have been served with show-cause notices. However, Shahzaib Hasan and Zulfiqar Babar have been cleared and no action will be taken against them. Mohammad Irfan is still being investigated, however, he has not been served a show-cause notice at the moment. A notice may be send to Irfan in the next couple of days. No one else is being investigated; neither by the PCB nor by the ICC, for any corruption charges,” he clarified. Shaharyar said once the investigation was finalised, a disciplinary committee would be formed, headed by a senior judge. “The committee will then hear what each of the accused has to say before deciding upon a punishment for them.” Shaharyar said the PCB’s anti corruption regulations clearly stated that if a player had been approached by anyone with an offer they were supposed to tell their security officer immediately. “If the player does not report the incident to an official, they are considered guilty even if they did not plan to take the offer up,” he said. “The PCB gives great importance to the PSL, as it has united the nation.” Pakistan came under severe criticism for allowing Mohammed Amir to return to international cricket after he, along with Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif, were involved in a spot-fixing scandal at the Lord’s Test against England in 2010. All three players completed their five-year bans in September last year. Salman and Asif are also in line for national selection.

ICC’s new constitution: While discussing ICC’s new constitution, Shaharyar revealed that: “The new ICC constitution has been made from scratch; it is equitable, fair and democratic and Pakistan welcomes it.” The PCB chairman further said that everyone knew that India would take issue with the new constitution, as it reduced India’s monetary returns from the sport. “The returns may have been sliced, but India still has the largest share. For example, if the rest of the countries are getting eight percent returns from the ICC, India is still getting double of that,” he concluded.