DUBAI: Five cricketers including Mohammad Asif are currently being investigated by the ICC for allegedly being involved in PSL's match-fixing saga, which shook the league after Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were suspended a day earlier.
An inquiry has been initiated involving Irfan in the recent match-fixing allegations which have rocked the PSL since Friday. Sources disclosed that the inquiry initiated by the ICC includes five players including the tall pacer, who could be found guilty of the allegations and may face action.
Irfan is currently with the Islamabad United squad and travelled to the Dubai stadium along with his teammates earlier today, ahead of the match against Lahore Qalandars. According to sources, Irfan will be in the playing XI of his side.
Read more: PSL match-fixing saga: Where does the buck stop?
Irfan does not face immediate suspension, Babar and Hasan to continue playing PSL: Sethi
PSL Chairman Najam Sethi confirmed that Irfan was being investigated by the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit but ruled out immediate suspension like Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif had suffered. The former PCB Chairman stated that Quetta Gladiators' Zulfiqar Babar and Karachi Kings' Shahzaib Hasan had been probed by ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit and had been allowed to play in the league.
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 11, 2017
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 11, 2017
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 11, 2017
Irfan, Shahzaib, Babr quizzed regarding allegations
Sources revealed that other cricketers also being investigated by the ICC for being involved in match-fixing. Sources also disclosed that these investigations had been kicked off by ICC's international investigators and not the PCB.
According to details, Shahzaib Hasan, belonging to Karachi Kings, was called off from the field and investigated. Data from his mobile phone was also extracted to investigate the player. Mohammad Irfan, Islamabad United's pacer, has also been investigated regarding the match-fixing allegations. The investigation has expanded to include Quetta Gladiators’ Zulfiqar Babar as well, and reports stated that in total, five players were currently being investigated for allegedly being involved in the incident.
Local agencies also helped ICC in its investigation against cricketers involved in fixing matches of the PSL. The investigations reported that one group of cricketers had accepted the offers that had been presented to them by bookies whereas the other group of players had not reported to the Anti-Corruption Unit that they had been approached. A third group had informed the Anti-Corruption Unit after which action had been taken.
It was further disclosed that the a syndicate of the bookies were found to be active in the hotel where the cricketers were staying before the opening ceremony of the Pakistan Super League.
The Pakistan Cricket Board issued show-caused notices to Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, who were suspended following a probe into the match-fixing allegations. Both cricketers' contracts were also cancelled by the PCB.
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