Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board banned opener Sharjeel Khan for 5 years in connection with the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the Pakistan Super League (PSL), as reported by local media on Wednesday. The left-handed batsman was suspended in February along with fellow opener Khalid Latif for violating the anti-corruption code set up by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The charges framed were centered on a match that was played between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United.
Following the sentencing, the 28-year-old cricketer will be unable to play any kind of cricket, domestic and international, for at least half the sentence and will be kept under strict observation for the entire duration of it.
Asghar Haider, who headed the PCB tribunal which comprised of three members and came up with the sentence, stated to the local media that “Sharjeel is banned for 5 years, which has two-and-half year suspended, after the proceedings of the case.”
PCB legal Advisor Taffazul Rizvi, gave a statement to GEO TV news saying, “The charges have been proven. He was given minimum punishment with no fines imposed. This decision has shown that we had strong proofs against him.”
Sharjeel Khan made his international debut in 2013 for Pakistan. In his career so far, he has played 1 Test match, about 25 One Day Internationals and about 15 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan.
The spot-fixing scandal in PSL rocked the entire cricket-crazy nation which was trying to get back to its earlier international glory. At least two more players have been implicated along with Sharjeel, while Mohammed Irfan, another fast bowler, was fined and banned for about a year this March.
Under the rules of the PCB, players can appeal to an independent arbitrator against the ruling within 14 days of the sentencing. The cases of the other players also accused of being involved in the scandal will be heard sometime in the near future.
