Pak investigators to grill players named in fixing
NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned the four players accused of being involved in the spot-fixing scandal in Pakistan Super League (PSL), in order to record their statements. Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed and Mohammed Irfan, the four players who have been named in the scandal, will give their statements to FIA on March 20 and 21.
Jamshed and Irfan have been summoned on March 20, while Khalid and Sharjeel will appear before the body a day later.
“Few people (accused players) can’t be allowed to tarnish the image of the country,” the Dawn subsequently quoted Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, as saying.
“This is a corruption case and FIA will reach all persons involved in this case.”
“After inquiry, if corruption and match-fixing is proved, then FIA could register FIRs to send the accused to jail,” he added.
Irfan was earlier this week suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following an investigation into the spot-fixing allegations in the second edition of the tournament. The leftarm pacer appeared before the PCB Anti-Corruption Unit in Lahore on Monday to answer allegations about being allegedly contacted by a bookie during the PSL. Irfan has been given 14 days by the PCB to submit his reply.
Earlier, on March 6, a threemember tribunal was formed by the PCB to investigate the spotfixing case allegedly involving Sharjeel and Khalid. The duo was later suspended by the PCB under its Anti-Corruption Code.
Both the cricketers, who play for the Islamabad United franchise in PSL, formally recorded their statements on February 18 before the anti-corruption unit of the cricket board.
SHAHZAIB SUSPENDED
ISLAMABAD: Shahzaib Hasan became the fifth Pakistani cricketer to be provisionally suspended by the PCB for violating its anti-corruption codes in the recent Pakistan Super League. Hasan has been issued a notice of charge and provisionally suspended from playing. He has now 14 days to respond. The PCB charges against Hasan relate to a player allegedly failing to report a suspect approach to anti-corruption officials and also for allegedly involving players in corruption indirectly.
Hasan last played an international for Pakistan during the 2009 World Twenty20.