Fourth Pakistan cricketer faces suspension in PSL spot-fixing scandal

The fourth wicket has possibly fallen in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) spot-fixing scandal. Reports in Pakistani media suggest that 27-year-old right-hand batsman Shahzaib Hasan is likely to be suspended after he was interrogated by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). He was questioned and Hasan has given his statement in the case.

Goe News also reported their sources saying that Pakistan international batsman Nasir Jamshed is also on the radar of the ACU and will be called for interrogation soon. Earlier Mohammad Irfan was the third player to be provisionally suspended by the PCB after he admitted that he was approached by the bookies during the PSL and he failed to report it. Which accounts for a breach of the ACU’s Code of Conduct for players.

The case came to light when two Pakistan cricketers, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were found to be in contact with bookies as a part of a large fixing syndicate and were immediately charged and suspended by the PCB after the first match of the PSL season 2. They have gone on record and admitted that they violated the disciplinary code but weren’t involved in spot-fixing, the charges that have been pressed on them.

Shahzaib is also a Pakistan international and has played 3 ODIs and 10 T20Is for the national team and has scored 100 and 116 runs respectively. He has a vast first-class, list A and T20 experience behind him having featured in 80, 60 and 100 matches in respective formats and has 5035, 2120 and 2695 runs under his belt.

He plays for the Karachi in domestic cricket and was a part of the Karachi Kings in the PSL. Shahzaib was included in the KK team for just two games where he bagged a duck and scored 19 runs in his last appearance. An official word from the PCB is awaited on the matter.