By Asif Suhail
Two weeks ago the Chairman of the PSL Najam Sethi threw a bombshell informing the nation that Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan, representing Islamabad United in the ongoing PSL in the UAE, have been provisionally suspended by the PCB as part of a domestic match-fixing investigation.
Both Khalid and Sharjeel vehemently denied the allegations.
Sethi had claimed that the players were suspended when the authorities found credible information on their involvement in spot-fixing.
Talkative Sethi also claimed that his Chariya had informed him about spot-fixing at PSL, even before the tournament began but players were allowed to continue playing as authorities gave them the benefit of the doubt, an obvious hint towards Shaharyar who declined this view vehemently.
Last week both Khalid and Sharjeel appeared before a PCB committee and insisted that they were not guilty despite they had been advised to plead guilty if they want to minimise the penalties they are going to face.
According to sources, in fact Sharjeel opened a pandora’s box when he was asked about first five balls played by him in the tournament’s first match.
The PCB, however, issued notices to Khalid and Sharjeel under its Anti-Corruption Code.
They are given two weeks to submit their reply. Indications are that both players are in consultations with their lawyers and would challenge PCB’s decision in the court.
Court battle would be interesting and it would open a Pandora box.
Pakistan cricket has been rocked by fixing scandals over the past two decades. Former captain Salim Malik and fast bowler Ata-ur-Rehman were banned for life after an investigation in 2000.
Again Pakistan cricket was dogged by corruption scandals in 2010 when Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were convicted of taking bribes from a bookmaker to intentionally bowl no-balls against England at Lord’s.
The trio were jailed. Aamir was allowed to play international cricket while Salman appeared in domestic cricket after their punishments. Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was also banned for life in a spot-fixing case in 2012.
Another fixing scandal after seven years is a glaring example of PCB’s failure to curb fixing issue effectively.
Pakistan cricket is again in international radar.
Spineless Chairman of the PCB Shaharyar Khan and over smartness of Sethi together with an unconcerned self-appointed Patron-in-Chief of the Board have brought Pakistan cricket at the brink of total destruction.