Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif negate their spot-fixing allegation

Pakistan cricketers Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan who were suspended from playing the PSL for their alleged involvement in match fixing finally broke their silence and denied all the allegations regarding match-fixing. According to reports from reliable sources, the two suspended players denied all the allegations except admitting to disciplinary violation against the charge sheet filed against them. The response from the players will be prepared after taking help from a lawyer and will be submitted on Saturday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially reprimanded the duo on February 18 under the anti-corruption code. Their suspension was handed after an initial inquiry by the PCB indicated about an alleged attempt by an international syndicate to corrupt the 2nd edition of the PSL. While Sharjeel Khan is the first choice opener for Pakistan in ODI’s at the moment, Khalid Latif hasn’t been a regular member of the national setup.

On February 24 it was announced by PCB chairman Shahryar Khan that both the suspended players have agreed in their statements that they had met the bookies. Shaharyar Khan who was present at the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination by senator Mushahudullah said that Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif and left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan admitted of meeting a bookie named Yousuf but didn’t inform the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) about this.

Meanwhile, the final of the tournament will be staged on Sunday. The Quetta Gladiators have already qualified for the final but will be missing the services of all their foreign players as they backed out from playing in Pakistan. On the other hand, 5 foreign players from the Peshawar Zalmi squad have agreed to travel to Lahore if their team qualifies for the final. It will be possible only if Peshawar beats Karachi Kings in the must-win encounter today.

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“Five of our players will come to Pakistan if Zalmi qualifies for the final in Lahore,” Javed Afridi, the owner of Peshawar Zalmi was quoted as saying by Geo.Tv. Afridi, the owner of Peshawar Zalmi conceded that it was a big news for Pakistan that all these foreign players decided to play in Pakistan after so many years. “This is a big thing and Peshawar Zalmi stands united with Pakistan and Pakistan Cricket,” Afridi was quoted as saying. On the other hand, Quetta Gladiators will enter the playing arena on Sunday with many of their big stars missing from the Playing XI.