PCB formally charges Shahzaib Hasan in PSL Spot Fixing scandal

Pakistani batsman Shahzaib Hasan has been formally charged for the spot fixing charges by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The out-of-favor batsman became the 4th player from the country to be charged by the PCB for their alleged involvement in the spot fixing scandal of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017. The PSL 2017 began amidst all the hype and was expected to be a big hit.

However, the league was rocked hard by the spot fixing allegations just after two days of the commencement of the tournament. Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan were summoned to Pakistan by the PCB as the board claimed to have enough evidence against them. Soon, the name of tall pacer Mohammad Irfan had also sprung up.

However, due to lack of evidences, Irfan continued to play the tournament. More recently, Irfan was charged on the grounds of failing to report the authorities about the approaches made to him. He was handed a 12-month ban along with a heavy fine. Now, Shahzaib Hasan has been charged under the breaches 2.1.4, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5 of the Anti-Corruption Code of the PCB.

During the trial hearing held at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore by the Anti-Corruption Tribunal. Shahzaib Hasan attended the hearing with his lawyer Malik Kashif Rajwana. The tribunal has demanded the PCB to come up with all the evidences they have against the tainted player. Shahzaib, in the meantime, has got a time of few days till May 18 to question the judgment.

Former Pakistani cricketer Aamir Sohail has demanded that top PSL and PCB official Najam Sethi must step down if the board fails to get enough evidences against the tainted players. Khalid Latif and Shahzaib have now been called to attend another hearing on April 26 and 27. Meanwhile, the lawyers of Sharjeel Khan has claimed that the evidences against his client are insufficient to prove him guilty.