— PCB chairman says the board would continue to fight all corrupt elements in the game
The anti-corruption tribunal’s verdict against controversial opening batsman Sharjeel Khan was a justification of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) zero-tolerance policy against any corrupt practice in the sport.
These were the views of PCB Chairman Najam Sethi in a statement released by PCB after an anti-corruption tribunal on Wednesday slapped a five-year ban on Sharjeel Khan, after finding him guilty on all five charges laid against him by the PCB.
Sethi, while welcoming the verdict, added that PCB will continue to work for the elimination of corrupt practices from cricket. “The anti-corruption tribunal’s verdict against Sharjeel Khan is a vindication of our policy of zero-tolerance for corrupt practices in the game of cricket,” Sethi said.
“The anti-corruption and vigilance department of the PCB deserves great credit for identifying the culprits and nipping the spot-fixing scandal in the bud through their prompt action,” he added.
The charges against Sharjeel Khan, along with his Islamabad United team mate Khalid Latif, surfaced during the second edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL). “Both Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were promptly withdrawn and sent home for their questionable conduct that sullied the game besides tarnishing the spotless reputation of the PSL,” added the chairman PCB.
Sethi hoped that the other three players, Khalid Latif, Shahzeb Hassan and Nasir Jamshed, will be dealt accordingly to the intensity of their offences. “PCB hopes that the three remaining players will be dealt with in accordance to the proportionality of their offences,” said Sethi.
The chairman PCB also praised the efforts of PCB’s anti-corruption and vigilance unit and the legal team of the cricket board for putting their efforts to bring the case to a logical conclusion.
“The PCB will continue to fight all corrupt elements that attempt to tarnish the game both at the domestic and international level,” Sethi aimed.
