Sports

Sharjeel, Khalid may face lifetime ban over match-fixing allegations

Chargesheet against both batsmen likely to be presented on Tuesday

Saleem Khaliq February 13, 2017

Chargesheet against both batsmen likely to be presented on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

DUBAI: Batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, who were suspended after reports surfaced of their alleged involvement in match-fixing in the ongoing T20 league, may face a lifetime ban from cricket, sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told Daily Express on Sunday.

According to the sources, PCB authorities have already recorded the confessional statements of both the players and will likely present a chargesheet against them on Tuesday. Under the Pakistan Anti-Corruption Code, failure to report match-fixing attempts may result in suspension for six months to life, while taking part in the offence can result in a ban for five years to life.

PSL chief reassures players as probe widens

The sources said both Sharjeel and Khalid have been accusing each other of wrongdoing after they were sent home from Dubai, where the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is being held. Both cricketers were playing for the Islamabad United franchise.

The T20 league was rocked on Friday when reports of Sharjeel and Khalid’s alleged involvement in match-fixing emerged. Both batsmen were ‘provisionally’ suspended by the PCB and sent back to Pakistan. Sources at the time said the two players confessed to meeting bookies.

Three more players were questioned a day after although PSL and PCB Executive Committee Chairman Najam Sethi assured the board was not planning to suspend any other cricketers at the moment.

Tainting cricket: Two PSL players suspended over match-fixing

Sethi himself confirmed that left-arm fast-bowler Mohammad Irfan, left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar and opening batsmen Shahzaib Hassan were brought in for questioning on Saturday as part of an ongoing probe into attempts to corrupt PSL.

Six players are thought to be involved in the PSL match-fixing scandal and players from other franchises such as Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators are also being investigated by the management.

Islamabad United – which is defending the title won its first match against Peshawar Zalmi – expressed its dismay over Sharjeel and Khalid’s alleged involvement in match-fixing. The team’s spokesperson said the franchise was following a policy of zero-tolerance against violation of guidelines and rules. He said the team would soon find replacements for the two players.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2017.

COMMENTS (14)

Tanveer Abdalla | 7 years ago | Reply I am agree with the comments from my bro Azmat, it might be possible... second thing its a common scenes if a person knowing if the opposite person is bookies then why both talented player click the selfie no way.. someone has been trapped them and hard feeling that there is something missing.. PCB and concern panel must take there time to come in a right way at the end its a matter of the two upgraded player for the future of Pakistan

Ali | 7 years ago | Reply Life-ban only for allegation. Have some time required to proved. This should be applied for all who previous involved in FIXING.

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naseer | 7 years ago | Reply India should first look toward it's IPL which is entirely corrupt.

Atif | 7 years ago | Reply When you forgive match fixers, it sends the wrong message. Aamir was allowed to keep all his money earned through fixing and he served few years ban and came back. Every player will try to do the same.

Raaz | 7 years ago | Reply Funny that every time someone is accused of match fixing, his relatives, friends and himself claim innocence. Even funnier is the different stands taken by PCB before and after the enquiry and conviction if any. Initially PCB will say things like we are tough on Fixing. No one will be spared etc. Once a player is convicted, the same PCB will try it's best to reduce the Ban period and take the player back. Same drama repeated with different Actors.

fahim | 7 years ago | Reply As far as I know they haven't found to fix the match. They were talking to strangers and being celebrity that is how it is

azmat | 7 years ago | Reply I think there is a lot of misreporting in this news. They may have confessed meeting the bookie but have probably maintained that they did not know he was one. Otherwise, why would they take a selfie with him and post it on face book too? I am not their lawyer and don't know what other evidence does the PCB have against them,but this meeting evidence may not be enough

Fahad Hafeez | 7 years ago | Reply there has to be a difference in players being aproached by bookies and players actually doing match fixing. if these players only failed to report it shouldnt be that bug of a crime. but if they did the fixing then for sure ban them for life.

Lumdheeng | 7 years ago | Reply Players who do match fixings have no morale, commonsense, dignity,don't understand the consequences, first the prestige, giving bad name to the family and nation.

Tanveer Abdalla | 7 years ago | Reply If the inquiry panel and the player confess the claim and found guilty then i must say it is very shameful thing comes in front. we the player such like sharjeel the boy having great knock of talent which will go in reverse and waste.. if they are really involved in such kind of activities then i must say no sympathy for the them..

salman | 7 years ago | Reply @Ahmed: Do you really believe that by banning Aamir will stop Pakistani players from match/spot fixing ?

Saeed Masood | 7 years ago | Reply If found guilty ban them for life and send them to jail.They are a shame to Cricket and Nation.

Ahmed | 7 years ago | Reply We should've not allowed Amir to play as well. The menace of fixing will keep surfacing till we keep allowing second chances to the offenders

Ali | 7 years ago | Reply Well if they have done it in past playing in country colours then they punished by death / life sentence..

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