Mohammad Irfan provisionally suspended by PCB for corruption charges

It was confirmed by on Tuesday, that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended tall left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan from all cricketing activities. The move came after Irfan accepted in the investigation on Monday that he did not inform the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) about bookies contacting him before the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) began.

Irfan further had that he was mentally disturbed after the death of his mother, which is why he didn’t realize that he should inform the ACU about the incident. PCB in a statement, also confirmed that a notice of charge was issued to Irfan, who now has two weeks to reply to the charges.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board in furtherance to its investigation into potential corrupt practices has today issued a notice of charge to Mohammad Irfan under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code,” says PCB in statement. “He [Irfan] has also been provisionally suspended with immediate effect from participating in all forms of cricket.” read the statement as per the quotes on Tribune.

“PCB’s investigation will continue with regard to any questionable activity by any player and player support personnel as it carries on with its mission of eliminating the menace of corruption from cricket.”

The second edition of the PSL in its first week itself was rocked when the PCB suspended Islamabad United’s duo Sharjeel Khan and Khalif Latif on corruption charges. Also mentioned was Irfan’s name along with Karachi Kings’ Shahzeb Hasan and Quetta Gladiators’ Zulfiqar Babar, but they were not suspended like the other two.

Hasan also recorded his statement but it is yet to be known it he too has admitted that he did not close the bookies’ advances to the ACU. Suspending the bowler is the right move by the Pakistan Cricket Board. If harsh steps are not taken against match-fixing, the unethical practice will continue plaguing cricket.