Irfan admits bookies approached him for spot-fixing

LAHORE: Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan admitted here on Monday that bookies had contacted him but he could not report the incident to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) due to his domestic problems.

Irfan recorded his video statement before the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in relation to the board’s investigation into alleged corruption in the second edition  of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The fast bowler said that he was mentally upset due to illness of his parents so he could not inform the board about the bookies who had made contacts with him for match-fixing.

Another player Shahzaib Hasan who was also called in, along with Irfan, for questioning by the PCB will appear before the ACU tomorrow.

Mohammad Irfan represented Islamabad United while Shahzaib played for Karachi Kings in the second PSL in Dubai last month but both were cleared to play in their remaining matches.

The PCB’s ACU after recording the statements of both the players will determine whether to charge them or not, a PCB spokesperson informed earlier.

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

Sources revealed to Geo News over the weekend that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has received mobile phone data of Sharjeel and Latif. The FIA will conduct a forensic evaluation of the mobile phones of both the cricketers.