PSL spot-fixing scandal: Shoaib Akhtar blames PCB's anti-corruption unit; says board saved players from imprisonment

The Rawalpindi Express added that the Pakistan Cricket Board had saved Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif from life imprisonment.

Lahore: Former Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar has hit out at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) anti-corruption unit blaming them for the spot-fixing scandal which rocked the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this month.

PCB had provisionally suspended two batsmen - Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif - as part of an ongoing investigation into an organisation's alleged attempts to corrupt the 2017 Pakistan Super League.

Lashing out at Pakistan's anti-corruption unit, Shoaib said that it comprised incapable people who failed to tackle corruption.

“PCB’s anti-corruption unit is made up of incapable people,” Akhtar lamented, adding that the anti-corruption officials should have been able to stop the suspended players from carrying out alleged spot-fixing.

“If a stranger had approached these two players in their hotel, then the anti-corruption unit should have been able to stop this,” the bowler remarked.

“These two players, because of their stupidity, brought a bad name to the PSL,” he said.

The Rawalpindi Express added that the Pakistan board had saved the two tainted cricketers from life imprisonment.

“PCB has saved both players [Sharjeel and Latif] from imprisonment,” he said, adding that the duo should be thankful to the board.

“PSL fixing case should be resolved as per the law and should be investigated thoroughly [for future as well],” he added.

After being provisionally suspended, the Islamabad United pair was subsequently sent back to Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates.