By Muhammad Asif Khan
The first phase of the inquiry into the spot-fixing scandal, during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017, concluded on Wednesday (August 30, 2017) as Sharjeel Khan was handed over five-year suspension by the three-member probe panel.
However, the left-handed batsman can get eligible to play at the international level after two and a half years, starting from February 10th, 2017, the day Sharjeel Khan was provisionally suspended following the spot-fixing scandal in the PSL.
Let’s break down the sentence first, to understand it in a better way.
The first 30 months, of Sharjeel’s sentence, are fixed while the remaining 30-month period is suspended or conditional which actually means that during the first phase of his ban (30 months), Sharjeel Khan has to adhere to the rehabilitation pathway, cited in the anti-corruption code of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
What is the rehabilitation programme?
Under the anti corruption unit’s rehabilitation programme, a convicted player needs to go through a few prerequisites, in which showing remorse is one of the most important factors.
Furthermore, like Muhammad Amir and others did, he has to deliver lectures to young players about the menace of corruption in the game. On the basis of his conduct, during the first phase of his ban, the suspended sentence could be waved off.
In the past Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif were handed over five-year of fixed suspension with five and two years respectively as suspended ban and in 2015, we saw Butt and Asif, back on the field as they complied with the anti-corruption unit’s guidelines and fulfilled the specific conditions laid down by the anti-corruption authorities.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), from the beginning of this inquiry, was adamant and of the opinion that the ‘solid evidence’ they presented, before the tribunal, should result in a life-ban on Sharjeel Khan.
Before moving on to the next possible course of action from Sharjeel Khan and the PCB, let’s recall the charges on the suspended batsman.
Sharjeel was not only accused of concealing an approach by the bookie, but also of executing the deal struck between him and the bookie to play two dot balls, in the opening game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), intentionally.
Although, as per the verdict, Sharjeel committed relatively minor offences too such as concealing a corrupt offer to him and to his colleague – Khalid Latif – but the heaviest charge on him was the execution of the malpractice on the behest of the bookie and the tribunal found him guilty of this charge as well.
As per the PCB anti corruption code, the sentence, of this offence, is from five-year suspension to a lifetime ban. The three-member inquiry panel of Justice Asghar Haider, Tauqir Zia and Wasim Bari opted for the minimum suspension.
Sharjeel will of course contest this verdict but how can the PCB sit peacefully on this decision either?
Both the parties – Sharjeel Khan and the PCB – can exercise their right of appeal which is duly mentioned in the constitution of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Under article 37 of the PCB constitution, a panel of adjudicators hears the appeals against orders of the Board or officials or committees appointed by or under the Board. As per law, the panel of adjudicators shall consist of former Judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the High Courts or persons of good repute, qualified to be a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court of Pakistan.
From the onset, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), pressed for life-sentence against Sharjeel Khan due to the severity of his offence, in their opinion. Now after the suspension of five years, whether the PCB opts for an appeal, it remains to be seen.
The next course of action from Sharjeel Khan, after receiving the detailed verdict expected on September 7th, is an appeal before the panel of adjudicators.
He, through his lawyer Shaighan Ijaz, will contest the most prominent charge (executing the corrupt deal by playing two dot balls deliberately). If the panel of adjudicators upholds the sentence, then, in the next step, Sharjeel Khan is all set to approach the high court.
In view of the present scenario, it seems obvious that this saga would not end here. We are in for a few more months of arguments and counter arguments in store.