PSL spot-fixing: PCB suspends Mohammad Irfan from all forms of cricket

New Delhi: Pakistan Cricket Boad (PCB) has provisionally suspended their left-arm seamer Mohammad Irfan from all forms of cricket after his name came into the recent spot-fixing scandal that hit Pakistan Super League.

Along with Irfan, two other players - left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (Quetta Gladiators) and opening batsman Shazaib Hassan (Karachi Kings) – were questioned for their involvement in the scandal.

PCB released a statement confirming Irfan's suspension, giving him 14 days to respond.

“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. Irfan has been charged with two violations of Code Article 2.4.4 and now has 14 days to respond to the Notice of Charge. He 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.”

Another former Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed was also provisionally suspended on charges of being a "go-between" in the spot-fixing incident. Jamshed and another unnamed person were arrested in UK last month but were bailed until April.

The PCB, which has formed a three-member tribunal under retired judge Asghar Haider, said the investigation would continue.

Irfan, 34, appeared before the anti-corruption unit of the PCB on Monday and confessed to being approached by a bookmaker about fixing matches in the past six months.

He admitted he failed to report the incidents because of the death of his father in September followed by his mother's passing in January.

Irfan was initially dropped from one match in the PSL but was later cleared to play all remaining eight games.

Irfan made headlines for his extraordinary height -- seven feet and one inch -- when he entered international cricket in 2010 and stands as the tallest ever player to feature in international cricket.

While the tournament was being played in Dubai, Islamabad United's Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were provisionally suspended and asked to return home.

Pakistan cricket has consistently faced corruption charges. Earlier, in 2010, Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were jailed and banned over their involvement in the spot-fixing case.

The youngest of the lot, Amir was later allowed back into international cricket but there was no respite for Butt and Asif who continue to struggle to break back into the Pakistan team.

Irfan has so far played four Tests, 60 one-day and 20 Twenty20 internationals.

(With AFP inputs)