Pakistan suspend Sharjeel, Latif in PSL corruption probe
DUBAI: The Pakistan Cricket Board provisionally suspended Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif under its anticorruption code on Friday and dumped the pair out of the Pakistan Super League, just one day after the Twenty20 event started.
“Sharjeel and Latif have been suspended and the rigorous and wide-ranging investigation by the PCB supported by the International Cricket Council will continue as part of collective efforts to protect the integrity of the sport,” the board said in a statement. HYDERABAD: Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehedi Hasan Miraz shone with the bat as Bangladesh recovered from early setbacks to post 322/6 in their first innings at the end of the third day of their one-off cricket Test against India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Saturday.
Bangladesh now trail India’s mammoth first innings total of 687/6 declared by 365 runs.
The visitors started the day poorly and lost three wickets in morning session.
Reduced to 109/4 at one point, Shakib triggered the visitors’ fightback with a defiant 82. The in-form left-hander looked set to reach three figures before committing a poorly executed shot to hand India’s star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin his first wicket of the match.
Shakib, who hit 14 boundaries during his 103-ball stay in the middle, stepped out of his crease to hit against the turn but could only manage to find Umesh Yadav at mid-on.
Following Shakib’s departure, Rahim and Hasan continued to defy the Indian bowlers. Rahim was batting on 81 at stumps with Hasan undefeated on 51 at the other end. The duo have so far added 113 runs between them.
Earlier, resuming demonstration of our determination to drive corruption out of our sport. “We will not tolerate any form of corrupt activity and as this investigation proceeds we will not hesitate to take further decisive action as appropriate.”
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said players should know the pitfalls of corruption.
“Under no circumstances will the PCB condone actions of a few individuals to bring disrepute to the game of cricket or taint the image of Pakistan,” he said.
Khan later told media gathered at Karachi airport that evidence of wrongdoing exists.
“We have evidence against the players and we are into further investigation,” Khan said. “Sharjeel was on my flight back from Dubai but we did not meet.”
Defending champions Islamabad, who are in action again on Saturday, said they would be looking to bring in replacements for the banned Sharjeel and Latif.
“We are understandably disappointed at this development but emphasise our commitment to a zerotolerance policy towards any violations of the rules or stated guidelines,” the team said in a statement.
“We will be looking to find replacements for the squad as soon as possible. As per the PCB’s policy and guidelines, we will have no further comment on this issue.”
Pakistan cricket has been rocked by fixing scandals over the past several years.
Former captain Salim Malik and Ataur Rehman were banned for life after an investigation in 2000.
Malik was punished for offering Australian trio Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh a bribe to underperform during their visit to Pakistan in 1995.
In 2010 then Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were jailed and banned for five years for spot-fixing while leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was banned for life in a spot-fixing case in 2012.
The suspension is likely to end Sharjeel’s contract with English county side Leicestershire to play the Twenty20 Blast tournament later this year. A spokesman said that the club would be making no comment on the investigation or the status of Sharjeel’s contract. at the overnight 41/1, Bangladesh ran into trouble early on when a mixup between Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque, along with an excellent piece of fielding by Yadav, saw the former being run out at the non-striker’s end.
Yadav, who was in excellent form, trapped Mominul Haque leg before with an excellent delivery and Ishant sent back Mahmudullah shortly after the drinks break to reduce Bangladesh to 109/4.
After lunch, Shakib and Rahim attempted to stage a comeback before the former virtually gifted away his wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja sent back Sabbir Rahman shortlay after to pile more misery on Bangladesh. India first innings: 687/6 decl Bangladesh first innings: (O/n: 41/1): T Iqbal (run out) ................................. 24 S Sarkar c Saha b Yadav...................... 15 M Haque lbw Yadav ........................... 12 Mahmudullah lbw Sharma ............... 28 Shakib c Yadav b Ashwin.................... 82 M Rahim (not out) ............................. 81 S Rahman lbw Jadeja ........................ 16 M Hasan (not out).............................. 51 Extras (LB-13) ................................... 13 Total (For 6 wkts, 104 overs)..... 322 Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-44, 3-64, 4-109, 5-216, 6-235. Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 176-46-0, Ishant Sharma 16-5-54-1, Ravichandran Ashwin 24-6-77-1, Umesh Yadav 18-3-72-2, Ravindra Jadeja 29-860-1