According to reports the disgraced due of Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif who have been suspended for having contacts with bookies received an SMS from a former cricketer asking them to meet a “certain friend from abroad”.
This former cricketer was a member of Pakistan’s squad during world cup 2015 and played as an opener, said a source familiar with the situation on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to do so.
Sharjeel Khan allegedly received 20 Lac for stopping two balls back to back. He was allegedly given a specific grip to put on his bat’s handle so that bookies know he was their man.
Various other players are under observation. The list includes Islamabad United’s Muhammad Irfan, Quetta Gladiator’s Zulfiqar Babar, Karachi Kings’ Shahzaib Hassan.
Shahzaib Hassan and Muhammad Irfan were questioned by PCB’s ACU (Anti Corruption Unit) and were allowed to continue playing the tournament till further notice.
Muhammad Irfan however, was dropped by the management of Islamabad United from the team from their match against Quetta Gladiators today on 11th February.
Players who are under investigation have been divided into three categories. The first category includes players who were approached by bookies and who accepted their offers.
The second category includes players who were approached by bookies but it’s not known whether they accepted or rejected the offer but did not report it back to PCB’s ACU as per rules.
Third category contains players who immediately contact PCB officials when they were approached by the bookies.
Imad Waseem was also named as suspect by various news reports, however the Karachi Kings star rubbished the news saying it was a misinformation. “I have never been questioned by PCB’s anti corruption unit nor am I one of the suspects”, said Imad Wasid.
Najam Sethi, chairman executive committee of PCB, said they will remain vigilant and continue to protect PSL from the menace of corruption.