Pakistan batsman Shahzaib Hasan to appear before ACU

Pakistani batsman, Shahzaib Hasan has been asked to present himself before the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) on Tuesday, where his statement on alleged corruption in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 will be recorded on video. Yesterday, fast bowler Mohammad Irfan appeared before the Anti-Corruption Unit where he admitted in his video statement that he had been contacted by bookies during the tournament.

The fast bowler admitted that he had not informed the PCB about the bookie’s advances as he had been under mental duress due to the recent death of his mother. Islamabad United’s Mohammad Irfan and Karachi Kings’ Shahzaib Hasan had previously also been called in for questioning by the PCB during the tournament in Dubai last month but were given a green signal to play their remaining matches. The PCB’s ACU will decide whether to charge them or not after their video statements.

Islamabad United openers Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan have already been charged by the PCB for resorting to spot-fixing in a match, among a few other code-of-conduct breaches as well. The PCB has formed a three-member tribunal to hear their cases later this month.

Over the weekend, Geo News reported that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has received mobile phone data of Sharjeel and Latif. The FIA will then conduct a forensic evaluation of the mobile phones of both the cricketers.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board in furtherance to its investigation into potential corrupt practices has today issued a notice of charge to Mohammad Irfan under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code,” says PCB in a statement. “He [Irfan] has also been provisionally suspended with immediate effect from participating in all forms of cricket.

“PCB’s investigation will continue with regard to any questionable activity by any player and player support personnel as it carries on with its mission of eliminating the menace of corruption from cricket,” PCB said.