Sharjeel seeks justice from PM Khaqan Abbasi

Former Islamabad United opener insists he was wronged

KARACHI: After being banned for his part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) spot-fixing scandal, former Islamabad United opener Sharjeel Khan has sought justice from Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Sharjeel vowed that he would fight all allegations levelled against him. "I want to meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi so that I may clear my name," he said. "PCB’s tribunal is too weak to take action against anyone; they just thought they should punish or ban us and that there was no other option for them."

The anti-corruption tribunal banned Sharjeel for five years after he was provisionally suspended alongside fellow Islamabad United opener Khalid Latif in February for violating the PCB’s anti-corruption code.

The charges centred on a match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai, with Latif being said to be the orchestrator of the deal.

Both players were also charged for not reporting the matter to the PCB''s anti-corruption unit.

"Sharjeel is banned for five years, which has two-and-a-half years suspended," said Asghat Haider, head of the three-member tribunal. "We investigated all charges and found them to be correct.”

The minimum punishment for the charges was five years, with a maximum of a life ban also on the cards.

Former PCB head Tauqir Zia and erstwhile Pakistan captain Wasim Bari were the other members of the tribunal formed in March.

Four other players Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan, Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Nawaz were also included in the investigation on multiple charges.