PSL Spot Fixing: PCB harshly punishes Muhammad Irfan
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LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has gone harsh against Pakistan pace bowler Muhammad Irfan over the issue of the match fixing scandal.
Mohammad Irfan has admitted to his ‘mistake’ on Wednesday in a reply submitted to the anti-corruption unit of Pakistan Cricket Board that is probing Pakistan Super League 2017 fixing scandal.
Reportedly, Irfan’s central contract has been suspended for six months and fined Rs 1 million for two violations of Article 2.4.4 of Anti-Corruption Code of PCB.
He addressed a press conference in Lahore today along with his legal counsel and admitted to committing a ‘mistake’. He sought apology of the nation in general and cricket fans in particular whose sentiments were hurt.
Anti-corruption unit had earlier filed a charge-sheet against him over his involvement in the fixing scandal that hit the second installment of PSL this year immediately after the first match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi on February 9 in Dubai.
Mohammad Irfan has said that he ‘could not’ inform the anti-corruption body and the board after two bookies approached him once the PSL kicked off, which he should have.
Press release issued by the board in this regard states: "It was alleged that Irfan had, on two occasions, failed to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of the approaches and invitations received by him to engage in Corrupt Conduct."
The period of suspension is recorded to have begun from March 14 when a Notice of Charge was issued to him by the Vigilance and Security Department of PCB.
Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Lateef, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed are provisionally suspended at the time as the anti-corruption unit is probing allegations against them besides Irfan.
However, charges against the cricketers except Irfan include involvement in spot-fixing whereas Irfan was taken issue with by the board for not informing about contact with bookies while in Dubai.
This is the first time that PSL in its history of two years was brought disrepute to by fixing scandal.
