The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended pacer Mohammad Irfan after allegations of spot-fixing surfaced against him during the Pakistan Super League. The towering left-arm pacer has been suspended and charge-sheeted over his alleged contacts with bookies.
According to a Dawn report, Irfan had appeared before the PCB anti-corruption unit in Lahore on Monday to give his reply to allegations of him not reporting an incident when a bookie made contact with him during the PSL. The PCB has asked Irfan to submit his reply within 14 days.
The PCB, in a statement, said, “The Pakistan Cricket Board in furtherance to its investigation into potential corrupt practices has today issued a Notice of Charge to Mohammad Irfan under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code”
“Irfan has been charged with two violations of Code Article 2.4.4 and now has 14 days to respond to the Notice of Charge. He has also been provisionally suspended with immediate effect from participating in all forms of cricket.”
The spot-fixing scandal in Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20 league had earlier seen two other players, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, being sent home early from the United Arab Emirates, where it was being held.
Following the spot-fixing allegations, the PCB formed a three-member tribunal headed by former Lahore High Court judge Asghar Haider to investigate the case. The tribunal also comprised former PCB chief Tauqir Zia and former Pakistan skipper Wasim Bari.
Another player connected to the scandal, Nasir Jamshed, was arrested and later released on bail by Britain’s National Crime Agency in London. The PCB subsequently suspended the left-handed opener from all forms of cricket. The agency also arrested two other suspects in connection with the case.