Spot-fixing scandal: PCB suspends pacer Mohammad Irfan

Dawn.com Published March 14, 2017

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday suspended fast bowler Mohammad Irfan following the investigations into the spot-fixing allegations, DawnNews reported.

Irfan had appeared before the PCB anti-corruption unit in Lahore on Monday to answer allegation of him not reporting to the unit incident in which a bookie made a contact with him during the second HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The fast bowler was suspended and charge-sheeted over his alleged connections with bookies. The PCB has asked Irfan to submit his reply within 14 days.

The hearing continued for one and half hours and Irfan was also asked to hand over his cell phone and other relevant information to the unit.

There were reports that Irfan took the stance that he could not report to the unit because he was upset due to the death of his parents, who passed away one after other in a space of one year.

Along with Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif and Shahzaib Hasan, Irfan too was accused of allegedly meeting the bookie soon after the inaugural PSL match between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United in Dubai.

The unit immediately sidelined prime suspects Sharjeel and Khalid, but allowed Irfan and Shahzaib to continue playing in the league after initial inquiries.

But after the end of the PSL final in Lahore last Sunday, both Irfan and Shahzaib were summoned by the anti-corruption unit.

Shahzaib, a former international, is to appear before the unit on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had said that it will undertake forensic examination of available evidence on spot-fixing allegations during the PSL and the information provided by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to fix responsibility on people involved in it.

In a preliminary report submitted to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the premier investigation agency said it was looking into the matter pertaining to deletion of messages from mobile phones of players to find out which of them were in contact with bookies and what had been agreed upon between them.

The report, according to the Ministry of Interior, has identified some vital points with respect to steps taken to prevent spot-fixing during the PSL and the possibility of players’ involvement.

Pakistan

Third man arrested in spot-fixing investigation

FIA to do forensic examination of PSL spot-fixing evidence

Spot-fixing menace deserves firm and fair handling

Abid

Mar 14, 2017 01:55pm

Its shameful to find how easy it is for our greats to sell mother land for few pennies even when they know they have a shinning future ahead if they remain sincere with the game... it seems return of Muhammad Amir and possibility of Salman and Asif retruning has sent a very wrong message... and immediately after that fixing started again.. very bad...

Recommend 0

Wasi Qureshi

Mar 14, 2017 02:01pm

A lames excuse..

Recommend 0

Muhammad Mansoor Sajid

Mar 14, 2017 02:02pm

Unless and until strict criminal charges are fixed and deternet punishment are given only then players will think thousand time before getting indulge in such dirty acts.

Recommend 0

LOHPURUSH

Mar 14, 2017 02:04pm

Very disgraceful. While players are wrong , but they are part of overall corrupt system. PCB should compensate them well to keep integrity threshold.

Recommend 0

Mar 14, 2017 02:02pm

start paying more and it will disappear . PCB is corrupt it self.

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Mar 14, 2017 02:05pm

This is a ruthless action in the light of inability due to the death of parents one after the other in short time before mentioned by Irfan.

Recommend 0

addie khan

Mar 14, 2017 02:12pm

Why is it so easy for the bookies to get a hold on the Pakistani players? Players need to start realizing that what is more important for them, their career intact with country's name or money. Unfortunately, our players indulge themselves in such activities bringing shame to country's name. Such players should be heavily penalized & should face a lifetime ban.

Recommend 0

Alien

Mar 14, 2017 02:14pm

this will happen if you give player chance in their thirties ...

Recommend 0

Animesh

Mar 14, 2017 02:15pm

Match fixing needs to be dealt with strict action otherwise it'll eat into the system and nice to see PCB taking action.

Recommend 0

Raaz

Mar 14, 2017 02:18pm

No problem. Keep your fixing Money. Take a break from game and after completing your ban period (which anyway will be reduced by PCB), come back to the team

Recommend 0

MAK

Mar 14, 2017 02:17pm

one question to PCB.. why Irfan he was allowed to complete playing PSL season and Sharjeel & Kahlid was removed on immediate basis?? why no same action against all he players?? it shows PCB itself is corrupt and playing favoritism games..

Recommend 0

Abdulla Hussain

Mar 14, 2017 02:18pm

PCB should show zero tolerance towards game fixing in anyway. Knowing the rules fully well and then deliberately not following them is as good a crime as committing it. Catch them young to insure a corruption free team.

Recommend 0

asif

Mar 14, 2017 02:25pm

I am not surprised why players from sub continent are involved in these practices. When corruption is so rampant and not a single PM or President is clean then what to expect from the people who belong to lower segment of the society.

Recommend 0

Waseem Sarwar

Mar 14, 2017 03:13pm

Sharjeel had a contract of PSL worth $70 thousand for 3 and half weeks of cricket. He was signed to play in England as well and would surely have got a huge payday in CPL, Big Bash and Bangladesh premier league. He just started to play all formats for Pakistan too so there is no logic of being greedy as he couldn't earn a fortune playing fairly. Same goes to Khalid Latif and Irfan. Hopefully they won't ever play for Pakistan again. How difficult it is to inform PCB or their own franchise management about a illegal approach.

Recommend 0

Red

Mar 14, 2017 03:15pm

@M.Saeed , He can play Cricket in that time, but can't report such a serious incident to PCB. Make no sense.

Recommend 0

ksaexpat

Mar 14, 2017 03:44pm

Who is the Bookie? If he is Pakistani then his passport must be seized. Why is his name being protected? Whoever is involved no matter how important a player he is should be banned for life.

Recommend 0

Rashid

Mar 14, 2017 03:48pm

They were inspired by their rulers.

Recommend 0

Human

Mar 14, 2017 03:50pm

@Abid perhaps u didnt read the full article , hes been suspended for not reporting a bookie trying to contact him, to the ACU, not for spot fixing

Recommend 0

Zak

Mar 14, 2017 03:56pm

All these guys certainly deserve another chance. If Amir can play why cant they ??

Recommend 0

Guest67

Mar 14, 2017 04:04pm

PCB HEIRCHY AND NO ONE ELSE IS TO BE REPSPONSIBLE FOR THIS NEW EPISODE . The way they Bent backwards to convince ICC to allow Convicted felon Mohammad Amir back into the game and the team , it showed the others a way forward to make money when possible cos PCB will bail them out eventually .

Recommend 0

Sami SwatI

Mar 14, 2017 04:07pm

When I was against including Amir back in the team,many suggested that his case would awaken others to avoid this dirty corruption activity for which we were on the spot light in 2010. Happened again cricketing folks!

Recommend 0

@ABD

Mar 14, 2017 04:13pm

@Zak If you keep giving chances like this, that day is not far...

Recommend 0

Ranga

Mar 14, 2017 04:16pm

This decease has to be eradicated from all forms of sports. There should be no leniency.

Recommend 0

Baspin

Mar 14, 2017 04:20pm

Who is the bookie? why his name isn't disclosed?

Recommend 0

Ash

Mar 14, 2017 04:20pm

And these uneducated, illetrate, ignorant and uncivilized players continue to bring country name into disrepute....

Recommend 0

BAXAR

Mar 14, 2017 04:29pm

@Waseem Sarwar "How difficult it is to inform PCB or their own franchise management about a illegal approach." Did Amir inform PCB? Why is he playing?

Recommend 0

Khalid pervez

Mar 14, 2017 04:38pm

Why rush to judgement, maybe these guys are innocent, or maybe there are different levels of guilt, maybe they are all guilty, but lets all wait till they are either found to be guilty or innocent before making judgement about them. But lets not forget, corruption at all levels is part and parcel of our society, we need to start further at the top with guilty verdicts and work our way down, thus cleansing the swamp of corruption.

Recommend 0

Raj Patel

Mar 14, 2017 04:42pm

Looking to the Pakistani players involvement seems to be more of ignorance than greed I think. PCB needs to educate their players regarding when to report.

Recommend 0

Abhimanue

Mar 14, 2017 04:55pm

despite a serving prisoner giving license to Mohamad Amir for playing Pakistan again has gave wrong signal to other players that what ever you do nothing would happened in Pakistan . I thank that's what reflect now.

Recommend 0

Nabeel

Mar 14, 2017 04:59pm

Allegations can lead to suspension but not in all cases.Dont forget Kamran akmal and Wahab riaz cleared in oval test even they were the prime suspects.

Recommend 0

joe chaku

Mar 14, 2017 04:57pm

When will these cricketers learn to be honest. The rot has set in from junior level cricket in Pakistan, where fixing is an accepted fact. So the custom continues. Mohd Amir should never have been allowed to play, this has sent a wrong signal. It is disgusting, a SHAME absolutely no morals, scruples and will do anything for money

Recommend 0

Kashif

Mar 14, 2017 05:05pm

I wish our agencies would become so proactive in all other aspects of corruption.

Recommend 0

Dawn

Mar 14, 2017 05:09pm

Spot fixing aside Irfan does not qualify to be part of a winning team.

Recommend 0

Desi

Mar 14, 2017 05:14pm

@joe chaku The players are just doing what the entire country is doing i.e. taking bribes from everyone for everything. From PM to a peon, all take bribes. I am sure these players have given bribes to get things done in their daily life. We should not be surprised that the players are corrupt. They have learned it just like they learned playing cricket. What is happening in the team is the picture of what is happening in the country.

Recommend 0

Hidden truth

Mar 14, 2017 05:19pm

How much money do they want? Is there any end to greed? These players are already earning way more than a qualified professional would earn , why then sell your conscience?

Recommend 0

Engineer

Mar 14, 2017 05:38pm

Why he wasn't suspended along with Sharjeel and Khalid as it was already known that he was contacted by bookies but didn't inform PCB as per rules. Why he was treated differently than others by PCB?

Recommend 0

Indian4RMBLORE

Mar 14, 2017 05:55pm

This seems to b never ending story of PSL scandal, not good for Pakistan cricket

Recommend 0

A. Khan

Mar 14, 2017 06:22pm

How much are PCB officials getting from bookies for selecting the same duds over and over again ?

Recommend 0

Deepak

Mar 14, 2017 06:23pm

This is not at all about how less or how much more one gets paid by a cricket board. It is about integrity it is about honesty. A soldier in the line of fire does get paid much less than an average cricket player however he does Supreme sacrifice because of his integrity and values. Asian subcontinent lacks on all this values across.

Recommend 0

Farjad

Mar 14, 2017 06:31pm

Wasn't PSL supposed to provide us with fresh talent? On the contrary, it is taking away all the talent we already have, thanks to corruption :).

Recommend 0

Iftikahr khan

Mar 14, 2017 06:41pm

Ministry of interior after solving rest of the problems in the country is now fully focused on removing the last remaining imperfection in the country. Soon the country will be clean and pure from all security and corruption threats.

Recommend 0

ADD

Mar 14, 2017 06:54pm

@M.Saeed If he could play during that time he can also speak during that time. It's just a lame excuse. What else could he say?

Recommend 0

Alba

Mar 14, 2017 06:51pm

His reply will be, "It wasn't me. You have confused my name with someone else." Sorry old chap.

Recommend 0

ADD

Mar 14, 2017 06:59pm

@Zak PCB is discriminating. You have to be a certain age category.

Recommend 0

shocked

Mar 14, 2017 07:41pm

@Zak ... fully agree with you.

Recommend 0

N_Saq

Mar 14, 2017 07:45pm

Corrupt and corruption will always be there but all you can do is minimize it. Pay the right compensation and the players will stop biting into it. Why do you think in West players get paid millions of dollars a year? When the players future is secured then they don't see the need for it otherwise players will keep taking the risks.

Recommend 0

Mansoor

Mar 14, 2017 07:49pm

@kh For your information Hafeez, in and out(should be out) player earned over Rs 70,000,000 in 2014.

Recommend 0

Amit.

Mar 14, 2017 08:06pm

Pakistan Cricket Board has set a wrong example by allowing player who was involved in match fixing to play. You can't be so foolish to have that happen and also why this double standard of letting some players compete the entire tournament and then suspend them this does not show a board in good light at all. Be honest be transparent people around the world are not fools.

Recommend 0

SAMI

Mar 14, 2017 08:18pm

@Abid Repeated episodes could be due to our players inability to expand their consciousness on the matter. Similar arrangements will be devised in future and unfortunately our players can fall easily. Never heard of anything like this from Srilankan players. Guess what is literacy rate of that country...

Recommend 0

Kris

Mar 14, 2017 09:22pm

What is happening to Pakistani Cricket?!! This is very sad.

Recommend 0

Riaz Ullah Baig

Mar 14, 2017 09:40pm

He was "upset" due to the death of his parents in a span of one year! How could you play the whole tournament with all this tension!!

Recommend 0

Riaz Ullah Baig

Mar 14, 2017 09:41pm

@M.Saeed but he was stable enough to play the whole PSL??

Recommend 0

Jaydeep

Mar 14, 2017 09:46pm

@Indian4RMBLORE What about our own IPL scandals and the banning of two teams , both the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super kings.

Recommend 0

Saqib ghumman

Mar 14, 2017 10:24pm

Such a shame. Here again it proves that honesty is always the best policy if some one learns....

Recommend 0

raheem

Mar 14, 2017 10:26pm

@Abid Somewhere along the lines you have to start accepting the fact that Cricket turned into WWF in the 90s where almost every game is somewhat scripted or at least spot fixed. If you think IPL and Indian cricket is not fixed then you must be living in another planet. I know for a fact that there are World cup games organized by ICC are fixed... So Let alone just PSL....The whole concept of IPL was to invite retirees and young players to either make some money or earn their name on their in or their way out. That's it. We like to just be heard on our players when the fact is everyone in Cricket is doing spot fixing.

Recommend 0

concerned citizen

Mar 14, 2017 10:27pm

@Abid : Well you are too slow to pick up on this, like IK said we have the Master of corruption in charge of PCB so what do you expect from the rest of the folks under these corrupt cronies.

Recommend 0

concerned citizen

Mar 14, 2017 10:25pm

@Abdulla Hussain : In that case, Najam Sethi and his cronies should be shown door as the first step. As long as he is there, nothing good can come out of it

Recommend 0

concerned citizen

Mar 14, 2017 10:31pm

@asif : You got that right, it all starts from the top

Recommend 0

PakistanI

Mar 15, 2017 12:50am

Pathetic these losers never learn from past. The problem is PCB should stop picking players from poor families.

Recommend 0

Imtiaz Mahmood

Mar 15, 2017 12:57am

Question is, which players didn't have contact with bookies? That list will be shorter.

Recommend 0

GREAT

Mar 15, 2017 01:52am

When a banned player can come back into the national side after caught red handed then this was bound to happen. Setting strict laws and rules like life ban can only stop this no matter how talented u are.

Recommend 0

J. Gamble

Mar 15, 2017 04:57am

Though what Irfan did was wrong, and un-becoming of an international player, his suspension is not going to cure the basic problem. Pakistan Cricket should look for new breed of talent, and re-build the team. Headcoach Mickey ARTHUR has completely failed to tap new and young talent.

Recommend 0

LAHORI KID

Mar 15, 2017 06:31am

So Irfan was found guilty ? If the investigation is on going, than he is innocent until proven guilty. And if he is guilty, did he not learn anything from the previous cases against players? What is wrong with these people, what they are making today is still far greater than what they ever made before, greed is a nasty thing.

Recommend 0

hasan

Mar 15, 2017 07:09am

It is very heartening that accountability process has started in at least one institution. We all need to remember that corruption among cricketers is a reflection of corruption in the society in general and the political elite in particular. If we really want to eliminate corruption, we need to make an example out of the top political elite just as South Korea and Hong Kong did a few days ago.

Recommend 0

SSUS

Mar 15, 2017 08:17am

PCB should also hunts these bookies don't blame everything to players. How bookies get so closed to players

Recommend 0

SIpra been

Mar 15, 2017 09:24am

Irfan didn't report out of fear as these people are dangerous he didn't take any money also he was in deep mourning after the death of both parents within a year of each other, the PCB has to be brave and go after the big fish not their victims everyone knows who the betting Baron is and his close involvement with the PSL the question is has the PCB got the strength and conviction to go after him and his brother?

Recommend 0

72v

Mar 15, 2017 09:34am

Even psl allowed these guys to play. It was UK police that busted hence the action.

Recommend 0

Amin

Mar 15, 2017 03:41pm

Why everytime the players are comming on the surface. This can only be tackled if proper investigation is being done. Why the two persons arrested in UK and than sent out on bail

Recommend 0

Bixin

Mar 15, 2017 04:37pm

Last thing pakistan need is tented player. Please wake up. Start finding out clean players. Cricket world want pakistan. Pakistani citizen wants clean cricket, every one else want pcb to act.

Recommend 0

Omar

Mar 15, 2017 08:39pm

The entire country is run on corruption. WHY ARE U SHOCKED!

Recommend 0

Parveez

Mar 15, 2017 10:12pm

Some people will never learn.

Recommend 0

white noise

Mar 16, 2017 02:07am

embracing disgrace looking for quick buck

Recommend 0

Aruk

Mar 16, 2017 05:25am

Don't suspect him, he was such a good bowler as akram and waqur younis, so pakistan cricket board should help him to come out from this trail as soon as possible is good for both pakistan cricket team and its people.

Recommend 0