Khalid Latif likely to face ban up to 10 years for spot-fixing in PSL [Update #935]

[Abdullah719]

The Pakistan Cricket Board have today provisionally suspended two players under its Anti-Corruption Code as part of an ongoing investigation into an international syndicate which is believed to be attempting to corrupt the Pakistan Super League which started in Dubai yesterday.

Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif have been suspended and the rigorous and wide-ranging investigation by the PCB supported by the ICC will continue as part of collective efforts to protect the integrity of the sport.

Najam Sethi, Chairman of the PSL said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on the specifics of the case, however this investigation is a clear demonstration of our determination to drive corruption out of our sport. We will not tolerate any form of corrupt activity and as this investigation proceeds we will not hesitate to take further decisive action as appropriate.

“The investigation of the PCB Anti-Corruption Unit backed by the ICC ACU has been effective in dealing with this case to date and we will continue to work in the closest collaboration as the investigation proceeds. We are all absolutely committed to relentlessly pursuing anyone who would seek to damage the integrity of our sport.”

Chairman PCB, Mian Shaharyar M. Khan said, “I must remind all players of their responsibilities in the fight against corruption. They must understand that if they even think they may have been the subject of a suspicious approach, it is their obligation under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code to report it to an appropriate anti-corruption official as a matter of urgency.”

“Under no circumstances will the PCB condone actions of a few individuals to bring disrepute to the game of cricket or taint the image of Pakistan.”

The PCB and the ICC will not make any further comment in respect of ongoing investigation.

 

[kingusama92]

Might be a suspension until further notice so they can investigate?

I could be wrong.

 

[shah_1]

Shameful by Sharjeel

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Wth... Hope this is just a precautionary thing and they haven't done anything wrong. Khalid is an experienced guy and Sharjeel would never do something like this. Sharjeel is the most important batsman in our Limited Overs teams

 

[angrypathan]

Just when we found a good opener

 

[Jabo]

I cant say I'm surprised with sharjeel

He gives off the vibe of a lazy guy who gives no ....

 

[yasir]

What exactly is the issue? - Is it drugs, fixing or some infighting within players??

 

[Yatoo]

Le. Gaya eak aur player corruption ki bhaint

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Might be a suspension until further notice so they can investigate?

I could be wrong.

I think that is it

 

[imranraf]

Looks like they were engaged in some betting or some other sorts of corruption. Sad to see Sharjeel in the list.

 

[Deception]

Why would you announce such thing in live commentary ! Strange shocker actually

 

[Hamza_]

Don't think Sharjeel would do something like that

 

[jazbati]

We can sort of guess why. It will just give PSL a bad name.

 

[kingusama92]

What exactly is the issue? - Is it drugs, fixing or some infighting within players??

Fixing.

 

[kingusama92]

Don't think Sharjeel would do something like that

Everyone said the same thing about Asif, Amir, and Butt.

BUT, this is precautionary for now.

 

[angrypathan]

Why would you announce such thing in live commentary ! Strange shocker actually

Yeah I too was very surprised by the announcement being made by the commentators

 

[sshakir411]

were they seen hanging with the wrong crowd? Why does this even have to come out in public until something is found?

 

[shah_1]

Don't think Sharjeel would do something like that

ohh come on

 

[kingusama92]

were they seen hanging with the wrong crowd? Why does this even have to come out in public until something is found?

Probably as a deterrent.

Still, no need to announce it in the middle of an ongoing match.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

ahhh damn it i hope this is a misunderstanding

loosing Sharjeel sinks our odi team, he is more crucial than any other player

just shocking , these fools never learn

 

[Hamza_]

Everyone said the same thing about Asif, Amir, and Butt.

BUT, this is precautionary for now.

Personally, I don't think any Pakistani Player would do after looking at something which happened with the trio. Aamir only gor out because he was 18, Sharjeel is 28 and has just got a start to his International Cricket, Seems to be an improving and down to earth guy. Very unlikely for him to be involved in such thing

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Probably as a deterrent.

Still, no need to announce it in the middle of an ongoing match.

probably wanted to preempt any media reporting

 

[yasir]

Fixing.

That's terrible terrible news, he is the only modern day batsman we have

 

[Adil_94]

i just hope that its because they failed to report an approach by bookies. If they actually agreed to take money to under perform then they should be banned.

 

[Yatoo]

Looks like they failed to report an approach by bookies. Is that a crime under any law? Can someone please dig that out? Don't want to lose Sharjeel at this juncture

 

[srh]

even if you dont report someone who approached you, you can get suspended

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Unbelievable.....

 

[Speedster777]

Losing Sharjeel would be terrible. He's the only modern baseman in our team.

 

[b.lesner]

dont worry guys Fakhar zaman and kamran akmal are ready made openers

 

[yasir]

i just hope that its because they failed to report an approach by bookies. If they actually agreed to take money to under perform then they should be banned.

Looks like they failed to report an approach by bookies. Is that a crime under any law? Can someone please dig that out? Don't want to lose Sharjeel at this juncture

I hope this is the only offense, does not looks like a huge deal... But why so much hue and cry about just that, you don't throw splash in media like that, but who knows, ICC is more cautious now than before...

 

[Varun]

Shocking news.

Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam looked like promising prospects down under.

Why does this nonsense keep happening to Pakistan cricket?

 

[nighthawk23]

Looks like they failed to report an approach by bookies. Is that a crime under any law? Can someone please dig that out? Don't want to lose Sharjeel at this juncture

iirc the same happened in the BBL. The players are most likely given a list of bookies beforehand so not reporting can be serious.

 

[ads101]

ahhh damn it i hope this is a misunderstanding

loosing Sharjeel sinks our odi team, he is more crucial than any other player

just shocking , these fools never learn

Which is why we should have banned the trio for life. The fact you can fix get banned for five years and then come back (even in international cricket) just isn't a strong enough deterrent. Fixers could arguably make more money in a few fixing games than in five years (Especially if they are in and out the international team). Take away their entire career though and have life bans, and cricketers will think twice before fixing.

 

[Pakpak]

Shocking news.

Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam looked like promising prospects down under.

Why does this nonsense keep happening to Pakistan cricket?

Why are you including Azam??

 

[todfod 11]

hope it turn out to b just precautionary.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

dont worry guys Fakhar zaman and kamran akmal are ready made openers

Sharjeel is 5 times better than Fakhar.

 

[ads101]

Shocking news.

Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam looked like promising prospects down under.

Why does this nonsense keep happening to Pakistan cricket?

Cos we are far to lenient on fixing.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

i may be wrong but isn't failure to report still a minimum of a one year ban ?

 

[Pakpak]

Which is why we should have banned the trio for life. The fact you can fix get banned for five years and then come back (even in international cricket) just isn't a strong enough deterrent. Fixers could arguably make more money in a few fixing games than in five years (Especially if they are in and out the international team). Take away their entire career though and have life bans, and cricketers will think twice before fixing.

Stupid post.

Butt, Asif and Amir got jailed too and except Amir the other two aren't coming back. If people aren't deterred by JAIL time and humiliation then the length of bans won't do jack. Murders carry death sentences, yet people still do them.

 

[Madplayer]

If sharjeel is gone, Pakistan ODI team is doomed.

 

[Stallion__]

Wasn't Khalid Latif captain of Pakistan team in 2010 Asian Games where we lost to Afghanistan? That match was never properly investigated.

Nothing short of a life ban is acceptable if anyone is found guilty now.

 

[TalhaSyed]

I know fixing is a very delicate and sensitive issue for us Pakistani fans due to the history of Pakistani cricket, however, lets wait to get some further details before jumping to conclusions.

Of course, this doesn't look good for both players, however, remember that as things stand they are not guilty of anything (as far as we know).

As one or two others on the thread mentioned - it may even be something like an approach from a bookie which they did not report. Or may not even be that.

 

[srh]

Which is why we should have banned the trio for life. The fact you can fix get banned for five years and then come back (even in international cricket) just isn't a strong enough deterrent. Fixers could arguably make more money in a few fixing games than in five years (Especially if they are in and out the international team). Take away their entire career though and have life bans, and cricketers will think twice before fixing.

i agree. By forgiving Amir so soon we set the bad precedent. Amir has become the idol for would be fixer cricketers.

 

[super hitter]

this isn't something serious guys, just a precautionary measure against something not that big...that is how i take it!

 

[Indiafan]

Stupid post.

Butt, Asif and Amir got jailed too and except Amir the other two aren't coming back. If people aren't deterred by JAIL time and humiliation then the length of bans won't do jack. Murders carry death sentences, yet people still do them.

Amir was still treated like a hero throughout his jail time and ban and fans were waiting for him to automatically come back to the team, which he did. All fans and emerging players will see is that he was treated like a hero

Anyways, for this news, it might be a minor thing, lets wait and see

 

[Indiafan]

this isn't something serious guys, just a precautionary measure against something not that big...that is how i take it!

If that was true, why would the players be sent back? Dont they have right to earn PSL money?

 

[blue_champion]

Will only raise Sharjeel's stature now,once he comes back from the ban,hopefully not a calculated move by him to go to the next level of stardom

 

[godzilla]

well well well.

lets bring back butt and asif even sooner and keep celebrating the amazingness of amir. serves all the supporters of these criminals right.

looks like there was no deterrent provided by the trio's sentences, and I think its clear now that this bizarrely warm welcome for these criminals by the Pakistani public, fan base and media with open arms and total disregard of their criminality and treason has manifest in the inevitable continuation of corruption - the Pakistani fan base deserves everything its getting. its also astonishing to see how incompetent the pcb's educational programmes have clearly been.

its not worth reading between the leaves, and we should wait till more information is available (its probably the failure to report an approach) but even if they are exonerated, the damage once again is already done in terms of reputation.

ordinary cricket, ordinary cricketers, managerial incompetence and a never ending litany of corruption - Pakistani cricket RIP.

 

[srh]

Khalid Latif is part of Karachi mafia so I would not be surprised if he is indeed involved in fixing.

The shocking one is Sharjeel who is from a small city Hyderabad; the big lights has gone to his head and is moving in wrong crowd.

 

[Syed1]

Time to look for two new openers in T20s and a new opener in ODIs/Tests

 

[Pakpak]

Amir was still treated like a hero throughout his jail time and ban and fans were waiting for him to automatically come back to the team, which he did. All fans and emerging players will see is that he was treated like a hero

Anyways, for this news, it might be a minor thing, lets wait and see

He wasn't treated like a hero, treating him like a hero would mean appreciating his actions. Which no sane person did. People agreed with his ban but some, including a large number of ex-professionals, also argued he should have been allowed back due to his age. Butt and Asif should have been banned.

 

[Hasan123]

Depressing news.

 

[blue_champion]

this isn't something serious guys, just a precautionary measure against something not that big...that is how i take it!

So what exactly does it mean? you mean to say there is a chance that Sharjeel might be susceptible to corruption? or there are doubts about his integrity? either ways not a great sign.

 

[Ahson8]

Idiots.

 

[Abdul]

This is just sad stuff.

 

[Pakpak]

If that was true, why would the players be sent back? Dont they have right to earn PSL money?

Who is sent back? Source?

 

[blue_champion]

He wasn't treated like a hero, treating him like a hero would mean appreciating his actions. Which no sane person did. People agreed with his ban but some, including a large number of ex-professionals, also argued he should have been allowed back due to his age. Butt and Asif should have been banned.

Well,he was given a red carpet welcome without much effort,I am all up for players getting a redemption but he should have gone back in line and the path should have been much more stringent,not a smooth pass to get back to where he left off....that exactly is the definition of a hero's welcome

 

[moghul]

Sad, lets look beyond Sharjeel now, where there's smoke, there's fire, hope not.

 

[Pakpak]

Well,he was given a red carpet welcome without much effort,I am all up for players getting a redemption but he should have gone back in line and the path should have been much more stringent,not a smooth pass to get back to where he left off....that exactly is the definition of a hero's welcome

Not really, he was given an easy comeback because our fast bowling stock is very poor. Nothing to do with heroism.

But then again debating this issue with mind-numbing Indians is pointless.

 

[Asim2Good]

Looks like they failed to report an approach by bookies. Is that a crime under any law? Can someone please dig that out? Don't want to lose Sharjeel at this juncture

Yes it's a crime. Recently a Hong Kong player was banned for 2 years (IIRC) for not reporting an approach

 

[super hitter]

If that was true, why would the players be sent back? Dont they have right to earn PSL money?

they've been sent back? then this may be something serious.

So what exactly does it mean? you mean to say there is a chance that Sharjeel might be susceptible to corruption? or there are doubts about his integrity? either ways not a great sign.

DEFINITELY NOT A GREAT SIGN BUT a ban for years may be on the line if they really are part of something big which seems doubtful.

 

[shah_1]

If it involves fixing

Should be a life ban for these cricketers, no more lenience.

 

[Moiza]

Can he play in the psl?

 

[Varun]

Why are you including Azam??

I just wanted to point out that he along with Sharjeel were the duo who earned Pakistan some good performances in the Australian ODI series.

 

[Hamza_]

When is PCB going to update on this?

 

[MRSN]

apparently they met people who were on the watchlist of PCB.

 

[Syed1]

Let's not jump the gun. For all we know these two might just have had dinner with the 'syndicate' and then reported it to the PCB who suspended them to perform their investigation.

 

[shah_1]

even failing to report bookies is a crime

PCB gives so many seminars on anti corruption, these cricketers know everything of what's right or wrong They should be punished harshly so others could learn

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Pak cricket is a mess right now.

Time to stop cricket phase of my life.

 

[blue_champion]

Not really, he was given an easy comeback because our fast bowling stock is very poor. Nothing to do with heroism.

But then again debating this issue with mind-numbing Indians is pointless.

Poor or not,you have fast bowlers right? That is not an excuse. What about the ones toiling in domestics,shouldn't they move up the pecking order no matter how good or average they are.

Yes I have no problem with Amir's comeback and definitely have no holier than thou attitude in his case but the fact he is jumped up the pecking order based on past reputation as a bowler and cut the queue despite coming back from a major punishment is what people have criticized.

 

[Indiafan]

He wasn't treated like a hero, treating him like a hero would mean appreciating his actions. Which no sane person did. People agreed with his ban but some, including a large number of ex-professionals, also argued he should have been allowed back due to his age. Butt and Asif should have been banned.

In the 5 years during his ban, he used to come for interviews every week on some channel. He was always portrayed as the innocent victim and people could not wait till he was back. Every day people used to say things like - once Amir is back, etc.

I do think Butt and Asif would be back soon too

 

[shaz619]

Let's not jump the gun. For all we know these two might just have had dinner with the 'syndicate' and then reported it to the PCB who suspended them to perform their investigation.

Or maybe Sharjeel and Latif went undercover to expose the syndicate from within

 

[blue_champion]

Let's not jump the gun. For all we know these two might just have had dinner with the 'syndicate' and then reported it to the PCB who suspended them to perform their investigation.

So PCB punished them for their heroic role of being undercover agents trying to break a fixing ring....how come I didn't think of this angle LOL.

 

[Abdul]

If it involves fixing

Should be a life ban for these cricketers, no more lenience.

How would it be fair on them if savior Amir continues to play in the national side?

 

[AFG_Brit]

There is was some news about one Pakistani player being blackmailed over a video. Wasn't that sharjeel? Could this be related ?

 

[srh]

If it involves fixing

Should be a life ban for these cricketers, no more lenience.

also life bans for Amir, Butt and Asif

 

[Syed1]

So PCB punished them for their heroic role of being undercover agents trying to break a fixing ring....how come I didn't think of this angle LOL.

PCB didn't punish them. They suspended them till further investigations are completed.

 

[ads101]

Stupid post.

Butt, Asif and Amir got jailed too and except Amir the other two aren't coming back. If people aren't deterred by JAIL time and humiliation then the length of bans won't do jack. Murders carry death sentences, yet people still do them.

Jail isn't a punishment for fixing. Most of the others didn't go to jail, the trio got unlucky there. What people will not do next time is to fix in England.

The cricketing punishment was five years out of the game. That's not a strong deterrent. Even the jail time, it was a short jail sentence. If I were in that position I would take a five year ban with a year or so jail time over a life ban. The latter spells the end of your career.

You can not compare this to even an average criminal let alone murders. Those who go to jail find it difficult to get any job. Companies don't want them. Yet these trio are back in domestic cricket, and one into international cricket. If you steal from a bank, they won't rehire you. Yet that's what's happened here.

The trio all deserved a second chance. But not in cricket. There's more to life than just cricket. But it just sets a bad precedent to cricket, and if we are to rid cricket of fixing we have to adopt a no tolerance policy. I would have had life bans of all forms of cricket for Butt and Asif, and a 5 year ban from cricket and a life international ban for Amir (which is showing some tolerance tbh).

We're just bending the rules generally because Amir was so talented. If it were some other cricketer who wasn't very good, I'm sure those same supporters would have wanted him to be banned for life. Representing your country is an extremely high honour, it isn't to be taken lightly.

 

[shaz619]

Perhaps the bookies lured Sharjeel with a bit of biryani and Pakoreh, he just ate the food and went about his business no harm done. Sharjeel just wanted the food he had no interest in doing anyone favours bit like when I attend certain events due to the tasty free food otherwise I have no interest in the other stuff [MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION]

 

[abughio]

Khalid Latif is part of Karachi mafia so I would not be surprised if he is indeed involved in fixing.

The shocking one is Sharjeel who is from a small city Hyderabad; the big lights has gone to his head and is moving in wrong crowd.

get your facts right man. Hyderabad is not a small city..

you can say it only in terms of cricketing history.