Irfan provisionally suspended from all forms of cricket

KARACHI: The alleged corruption scandal that rocked the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) during its initial phase was on Tuesday threatening to snowball into a major issue after yet another player was provisionally suspended.

Mohammad Irfan, the tall Pakistan Test pacer, was provisionally suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from all forms of the game for allegedly failing to report an approach.

The 34-year-old fast bowler was sanctioned on Monday as the board’s investigation into alleged corruption in the PSL broadened its canvas.

Another Pakistan international Shahzaib Hasan is facing a similar fate as he was summoned by the PCB over seemingly identical charges.

Sources said that Irfan broke the PCB’s anti-corruption code twice and that the latest incident happened at the PSL in February. He had been pulled up for questioning during the tournament but was allowed to keep playing for his team Islamabad United. Last week, however, the PCB summoned Irfan to appear before the anti-corruption committee again. He was one of two players called before the committee, the other being Karachi Kings batsman Shahzaib Hasan.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in furtherance to its investigation issued a Notice of Charge and provisionally suspended Irfan under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code,” a press release from the board said. “Irfan has been charged with two violations of Code Article 2.4.4 and now has 14 days to respond to the Notice of Charge. He has also been provisionally suspended with immediate effect from participating in all forms of cricket.”

The article that Irfan was found in breach of dealt with “failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code”.

Irfan is the fourth player to be suspended in relation to this case. Batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were charged in February but since they were contesting some of the charges an independent tribunal has been set up to look into their case. The former Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed was suspended and arrested in the UK as part of the same investigation, later being let out on bail.

The PCB has been criticised by former Test cricketers over its alleged double standards in dealing with the PSL corruption scandal. They have questioned the wisdom behind sending back the duo of Sharjeel and Latif while allowing Irfan to continue taking part in the PSL which was held in Dubai and Sharjah before concluding with the grand finale in Lahore earlier this month.