The Pakistan Cricket Board Friday provisionally suspended Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif under its Anti-Corruption Code and dumped the pair out of the Pakistan Super League. "Sharjeel and Latif have been suspended and the rigorous and wide-ranging investigation by the PCB supported by the International Cricket Council will continue as part of collective efforts to protect the integrity of the sport," the board said in a statement.
No further details were released but the pair were thought to be linked to spot-fixing, an illegal betting practice rife in Pakistan cricket in recent years. Sharjeel, 27, was part of the Pakistan team which toured Australia and featured in a Test and all five one-day internationals. He has totalled 25 one-day internationals and 15 Twenty20s. Latif, 31, was part of Pakistan's World Twenty20 squad in India last year and has played five one-day internationals and 13 Twenty20s.
Najam Sethi, chairman of the Pakistan Super League said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on the specifics of the case, however this investigation is a clear demonstration of our determination to drive corruption out of our sport. "We will not tolerate any form of corrupt activity and as this investigation proceeds we will not hesitate to take further decisive action as appropriate."
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said players should know the pitfalls of corruption. "Under no circumstances will the PCB condone actions of a few individuals to bring disrepute to the game of cricket or taint the image of Pakistan," he said. Pakistan cricket has been rocked by fixing scandals over the past several years. Former captain Salim Malik and Ataur Rehman were banned for life after an investigation in 2000. Malik was punished for offering Australian trio Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh a bribe to underperform during their visit to Pakistan in 1995.
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