Terms of Reference for spot-fixing case decided

LAHORE: The three-member Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) anti-corruption tribunal on Friday decided Terms of Reference of the spot-fixing case.

One of the suspected cricketers, batsman Sharjeel Khan, appeared before the panel. Khalid Latif stayed away.

The tribunal will formally start hearing the appeal filed by Sharjeel on April 14. The PCB will present its case against Sharjeel on the same day.

Khalid, who was reportedly unwell on Friday, has now been summoned on March 31. Sharjeel has been asked to start his defence from May 5.

Formal hearing into the case against both Sharjeel and Khalid will start from May 15. If the proceeding gets lengthy, the hearing will be conducted on daily basis.

Sharjeel has admitted playing two dot balls in the opening match of the PSL-2, revealed one of the investigators.

Playing for Islamabad United, Sharjeel played four balls and scored one run in the inaugural match against Peshawar Zalmi. He was trapped lbw on the third ball of the second over bowled by Hasan Ali.

The initial hearing of the tribunal was held under Chairman Justice (Retired) Asghar Haider. Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lt Gen (Retired) Tauqir Zia and Wasim Bari are also part of the tribunal.

The tribunal, in consultation with both parties, agreed on the procedure and timelines.

The PCB was represented by General Manager Legal Affairs Salman Naseer, Head of PCB’s Vigilance and Security Department Col Mohammad Azam, PCB’s legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi and Advocate Haider Ali Khan.

Sharjeel was represented by Advocate Shaigan Ijaz.

Reading out charges against Sharjeel, the tribunal leveled allegations of breaching the PCB Anti-Corruption Code:

2.1.1 Fixing or contriving in any way or otherwise influencing improperly, or being a party to any agreement or effort to fix or contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any Domestic Match, including (without limitation) by deliberately under-performing therein.

2.1.2 Ensuring for Betting or other corrupt purposes the occurrence of a particular incident in a Domestic Match.

2.1.3 Seeking, accepting, offering or agreeing to accept any bribe or other Reward to (a) fix or to contrive in any way or otherwise to influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any Domestic Match or (b) ensure for Betting or other corrupt purposes the occurrence of a particular incident in a Domestic Match.

2.1.4 Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach any of the foregoing provisions of this Article 2.1.

2.4.4 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.

2.4.5 Failing or refusing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident, fact, or matter that comes to the attention of a Participant that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code by another Participant, including (without limitation) approaches or invitations that have been received by another Participant to engage in conduct that would amount to a breach of this Anti-Corruption Code.

The PCB will submit its opening brief detailing its claims along with the evidence on April 14.

Sharjeel will be given time till May 5 to respond to the claims, following which the PCB will file a rebuttal by May 10.

Sharjeel and Khalid were provisionally suspended on February 10 under the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code as part of an investigation into alleged attempts to corrupt the 2017 PSL event.

The players were handed over a charge-sheet a week after they were sent home from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

So far, five Pakistani cricketers have been suspended on suspicions of spot-fixing: Sharjeel, Khalid, Shahzaib Hasan, Mohammad Irfan, and Nasir Jamshed.

On March 20, interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan approved putting the names of the five players accused of spot-fixing on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The minister also ordered investigations against the bookies involved in the practice.

Sharjeel’s lawyer said that matters relating to the spot-fixing allegations and the defence would be dealt with later during the process.

The final hearing will commence from May 15 on a day-to-day basis.

Sharjeel and Khalid had challenged the charge-sheet of the PCB. Both the players had admitted to having made contacts with bookies but denied accepting any monetary benefits from them.

All five suspended players who were charged with contacting bookies initially rejected all allegations.

A source in the PCB said Shahzaib was also in contact with bookies. He added that the player was also guilty of inciting other colleagues for fixing.

Shahzaib was charged on three counts.

The PCB source said that Latif and Irfan’s contacts with bookies have also been confirmed by the investigators.

The authorities said that Shahzaib, Irfan and Nasir would be dealt with afterwards.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had started investigating spot-fixing scandal despite opposition by the PCB executive committee chairman and later the two parties reached an understanding.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that both players could be banned for at least 10 ten years if spot-fixing was proved.

He said the PCB’s ACU had solid evidence of these players corrupting the game, and that the evidence was shown to them.

The PCB would send data to the FIA after a complete inquiry, it was decided during a meeting between PCB and FIA officials, held on the direction of the Interior Ministry.

A case can only be registered against the involved cricketers after the PCB tribunal is done with the investigation.

The sources said the FIA would then initiate action depending upon the nature of the crime.

The FIA will also provide assistance regarding forensics and other matters for timely completion of tribunal’s inquiry.

It is understood that Nasir, who was arrested in the UK in relation to the same case, was in touch with both Latif and Sharjeel during the PSL.

The PCB, as part of its prosecution, will send two officials to the UK to question Nasir.

“This time period (until April 14) has been agreed in order to give the PCB ACU an opportunity to travel to UK to interview Nasir Jamshed and meet with relevant UK authorities and determine if any of its findings are to be incorporated in the prosecution,” PCB said.