Khalid to contest fixing charges

LAHORE: Pakistan batsman Khalid Latif will contest spot-fixing charges against him, his lawyer said on Friday, in an ongoing scandal which has tainted Pakistani cricket and threatened years of work to clean up the country’s image.

The 31-year-old is one of five players under investigation in the case, which surfaced during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) held in February and March this year.

Latif appeared before a tribunal in Lahore on Friday. His lawyer Badar Alam told reporters that they would contest the charges “because no one can be convicted on presumptions”.

Latif and Sharjeel Khan — both openers for Pakistan’s Twenty20 team — were provisionally suspended and expelled from the PSL in Dubai on February 10 on charges of meeting a suspicious man linked to an international betting syndicate.

Sharjeel faces five charges on counts relating to fixing and failure to report it. Latif faces the same charges with an additional sixth charge of attempting to lure other players to fixing.

The charges against them could result in life bans.

Sharjeel appeared before the tribunal last Friday and is also likely to contest the charges.

Nasir Jamshed and Shahzaib Hasan, two other Pakistan openers, were also suspended in the case.

Jamshed, who allegedly played the link between the players and bookies, was arrested along with an unnamed man in Britain in February, but both were released on bail until April.

A two-member PCB legal team will go to Britain to question Jamshed next week.

Latif on Friday rejected all allegations of spot-fixing against him.

He has been formally charged with breaching six clauses of the PCB’s code of conduct.

Latif has until May 5 to respond to the charges with the final hearing set to take place on May 19.

Latif’s lawyer said that his client rejected all the allegations and would take the case to trial.

Latif has been charged with breaches of Articles 2.1.1; 2.1.2; 2.1.3, 2.1.4; 2.4.4; and 2.4.5 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code.

The PCB’s anti-corruption tribunal, during its preliminary hearing at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore, in consultation with both the parties agreed upon the procedure and timelines to be adopted under the anti-corruption code of the PCB.

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

Latif will be provided an opportunity to respond by May 5 and the PCB may, at its discretion, file a rebuttal by May 10.

The final hearing will commence from May 19 on a day-to-day basis.

Since under the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code the proceedings are meant to be kept confidential, no comments will be made by any party or the Tribunal on the merits of the case.

Shahzaib also submitted his reply to the allegations of involvement in spot-fixing Board on Friday.

Earlier, Shahzaib had stated that he would challenge the PCB’s charge against him.

Meanwhile, a top Pakistan cricket official defended a one-year ban for fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, saying there will be zero tolerance on corruption in the sport.

Irfan, 34, is the first casualty of the spot-fixing case which surfaced during the PSL.

Irfan, the tallest-ever international cricketer at over seven feet, was also fined Rs1 million ($10,000) for an “agreed sanction” after he confessed to the charges.

PSL chairman Najam Sethi said the rules were followed in handing down punishment to Irfan.

The tribunal is led by Justice Asghar Haider and includes former Pakistan wicketkeeper Wasim Bari and former PCB chairman Lt Gen (r)

Tauqir Zia.  PCB officials have vowed zero tolerance in the current case, saying they have solid evidence.