Year-long ban for Irfan after admits 'mistake' in fixing scandal
The suspension can be cut to six months if the cricketer does not violate 'Agreed Sanction'
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Mohammad Irfan has been provisionally suspended for a period of one year after he admitted to his ‘mistake’ on Wednesday in reply to charge sheet prepared by anti-corruption unit of Pakistan Cricket Board in probe of Pakistan Super League 2017 fixing scandal.
Reportedly, Irfan’s central contract has been suspended for six months and fined Rs 1 million for two violations of Article 2.4.4 of Anti-Corruption Code of PCB.
He addressed a press conference in Lahore today along with his legal counsel and admitted to committing a ‘mistake’. He sought apology of the nation in general and cricket fans in particular whose sentiments were hurt.
Anti-corruption unit had earlier filed a charge sheet against him over his involvement in the fixing scandal that hit the second installment of PSL this year immediately after the first match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi on February 9 in Dubai.
Mohammad Irfan has said that he ‘could not’ inform the anti-corruption body and the board after two bookies approached him once the PSL kicked off, which he should have.
Press release issued by the board in this regard states: "It was alleged that Irfan had, on two occasions, failed to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of the approaches and invitations received by him to engage in Corrupt Conduct."
The period of suspension is recorded to have begun from March 14 when a Notice of Charge was issued by the Vigilance and Security Department of PCB.
The board has further stated that Irfan approached the management on March 23 to initiate proceedings under Article 5.1.12 and requested for ‘Agreed Sanction’, restrictions that the board imposes after a player comes clean. He appeared for two meetings after that, on March 27 and 28 to explain his side of the case.
Irfan is required to meet the following conditions to have his year-long suspension cut to a period of six months:
- That there is no further/additional breach of the PCB Code by Irfan within one (01) year of the commencement of the period of Ineligibility; and no previous breach of the Code by Irfan comes to light. If any such breach(es) take place the PCB shall reserve the right to initiate separate and independent proceedings against Irfan under the Code;
- Pay to the PCB a fine of PKR. 1,000,000/- (Pakistan Rupees One Million Only;
- Irfan will provide Substantial Assistance (as described under the Code) to the PCB Vigilance and Security; and
- Irfan will, over the next six months, participate under the auspices of PCB in programs of Anti- Corruption education, which may include amongst other things, delivering lectures on Anti-Corruption at such places and to such audiences as the PCB Vigilance and Security Department deems fit and appearing in any Anti-Corruption videos.
Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Lateef, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed are provisionally suspended at the time as the anti-corruption unit is probing allegations against them besides Irfan.
However, charges against the cricketers except Irfan include involvement in spot-fixing whereas Irfan was taken issue with by the board for not informing about contact with bookies while in Dubai.
This is the first time that PSL in its history of two years was brought disrepute to by fixing scandal.
Chairman of the board, Shehryar Khan and Chairman of PSL, Najam Sethi vowed to probe the issue to its conclusive end and set an example out of the players if convicted.
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