PCB demands life-ban for cricketer Sharjeel Khan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not happy with the five year suspension imposed on their opening batsman Sharjeel Khan. The Anti Corruption Tribunal slapped a five-year suspension on five different charges on the cricketer for his major role in spot-fixing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Apart from him, Khalid Latif and Shahzaib Hasan are also facing separate hearings.

Two-and-a-half years out of the five-year sentence are suspended, which means that the cricketer cannot return to cricket before the ending of 2019. The 28-year-old cricketer has played 25 ODIs and 15 T20Is for Pakistan. The southpaw has scored over 1000 runs across the two formats. Khan was in the form of his life, as he played some blistering knocks against Australia during the start of the year down-under. His last thre international knock reads- 50,74 and 79.

PCB Chairman Nijam Sethi had earlier said in a statement “The anti-corruption tribunal’s verdict against Sharjeel Khan is a vindication of our policy of zero tolerance against corrupt practices in the game of cricket. The PCB Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Department deserves great credit for identifying the culprits and nipping the spot-fixing scandal in the bud through their prompt action. The PCB hopes that the three remaining players will be dealt with in accordance to the proportionality of their offences. The PCB will continue to fight all corrupt elements that attempt to tarnish the game both at the domestic and international level.”

Sharjeel refuses to commit to the crime

The sad part is that even during the proceedings before the Tribunal, the Participant (Sharjeel Khan) remained bereft of any regret or remorse for his wrongdoing; he acted in concert with another cricketer, till date he is refusing to accept his guilt and brazen actions. Rather his contumacious behavior is of defiance and making himself absent at the time of recording of evidence indicates disrespect to the Code and the Tribunal. The Participant deserves no reprieve or mercy and deserves to be awarded the maximum punishment of lifetime inteligibility”, the appeal says.