Sharjeel Khan, PCB's petitions against five-year ban rejected

Punishment is befitting the corruption committed, rules Appellate Tribunal

KARACHI: Disgraced cricketer Sharjeel Khan's five-year ban from cricket for his part in a spot-fixing scandal has survived two petitions, meaning the 28-year-old will have to serve his time per the original verdict handed to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

Sharjeel, along with his Islamabad United teammate Khalid Latif and a few others, were found guilty by the ACU in the infamous spot-fixing scandal that took place during the second season of the Pakistan Super League earlier this year.

The five-year ban imposed on Sharjeel was deemed lenient by the PCB and harsh by the player's attorney Shaigan Ijaz, with both the parties filing separate petitions with the Appellate Tribunal.

However, the Appellate Tribunal has dismissed both the appeals, reiterating that the original punishment handed out by the ACU was indeed befitting the corruption committed.

The verdict, ratifying of the original verdict, was read out by tribunal head Justice (r) Faqir Mohammad Khokhar at Lahore's National Cricket Academy in presence of both the parties.

“Sharjeel is now likely to face the same five-year ban that was imposed by the ACU, headed by Justice (r) Asghar Haider,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “The PCB is not happy but as the tribunal has rejected their plea, they will make their peace with the decision.”