PSL 2017: Travel ban on cricketers involved in spot-fixing

ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry on Monday barred cricketers under investigation for their involvement in spot-fixing scandal from leaving the country.

The decision to place names on the Exit Control List (ECL) was taken during a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and attended by the officials of PTA, FIA, and Nadra.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended five players after investigations revealed that they were in contact with bookies during the second edition of Pakistan Super League.

The minister said those who have defamed Pakistan would be brought to the book and directed the officials concerned for transparent investigations.

Initially, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Lateef were suspended and sent back home when they were caught red-handed meeting with a bookie in a Dubai hotel during the PSL.

Later, Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed were also probed and suspended on charges linked to spot-fixing and failure to report approaches by bookmakers during the league.

The case, which is being investigated by a judicial commission, has revived memories of a 2010 scandal that involved the national team and deprived it of three top players including paceman Mohammad Amir, who has since made a comeback.