PCB WIDEN PROBE INTO THE PSL TOURNAMENT CORRUPTION
The Pakistan Cricket Board has placed five players under the scanner following the provisional suspension of Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday widened the scope regarding the alleged corruption in Pakistan Super League (PSL) with currently, as many as five players reportedly facing investigations.
Soon after the provisional suspension of Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif of Islamabad United, 34-yearold fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, who plays for the same side, was also questioned after which he was allowed to remain part of the franchise.
The PCB has issued show cause notices to Sharjeel and Latif and sought reply from the two players within seven days besides cancelling their central contract.
Moreover, the anti-corruption unit (ACU) of the national cricket body also grilled Shahzaib Hassan, who plays for Karachi Kings and Zulfiqar Babar of Quetta Gladiators but have not yet suspended them.
Shahzaib was called from the ground for interrogation and his mobile data was recovered by the officials according to the sources privy to the development.
Reportedly, the suspected players met with bookies at a fast food restaurant located in close proximity to the Dubai Stadium.
Meanwhile, PSL chairman Najam Sethi took to Twitter to clarify that the PCB would take stern action to protect tournament from the “menace of corruption”.
PCB Anti Corruption Unit has questioned M.Irfan. Inquiry will continue. He does not face any immediate suspension,” Sethi said in a series of tweets, adding, “ACU has questioned S.Hassan and Z.Babar. They will continue to play.” “PCB ACU will remain vigilant and continue to protect the PSL from the menace of corruption,” he added.
On the other hand, PCB chairman Shahryar Khan, on his arrival in Karachi, confirmed that there was solid evidence against the players and the governing board was further collecting information vis-avis.
Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team›s batting coach Sanjay Bangar on Saturday praised skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Anil Kumble for preparing a bowling attack which could reap huge dividents during overseas tours.
Hailing India›s strategy to go with five bowlers in the traditional format, the former India all-rounder said: “It›s very important that the bowling unit is developed in such a fashion that even when India tours overseas, spinners will have to play a particular role and role reverses for seamers, when they play in India.”
“You need to develop a bowling attack that gives you results in all conditions. That is the thinking that goes behind, showing faith in quicker bowlers.”
“You don›t see often in India that three spinners are playing but there are also two seamers in the line-up. Lot of credit should go to Virat and Anil for the way they have planned things for Indian cricket,” he added.
Picking pacer Umesh Yadav as the “most improved” bowler from the last season, Bangar said: “Each fast bowler is different. Umesh, I think, is the most improved. He can move both ways and is good both at the start of the innings and mid-way through.”
“Ishant (Sharma) bowls mostly back of the length while Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) is more conventional. But all of them have been playing a major role,” he added.
Lauding the batting unit for their brilliant effort to post a mammoth 687/6 declared in the first innings, Bangar said: “The Indian batsmen have always set a benchmark for themselves and have been in quest of excellence. The best part is that they always put the team›s requirements ahead of their personal milestones.”