LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday charged and suspended giant fast bowler Mohammad Irfan over allegations of spot-fixing during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament, in a case that has so far ensnared three other current or former national stars.

The widening scandal threatens to take some of the sheen off the recently-completed PSL, which was hailed as a step towards restoring international cricket in the terror-hit country after the final in Lahore passed without incident.

A guilty verdict for the players would prove disastrous for Pakistan cricket, which was last rocked by a match-fixing scandal in 2010 that deprived it of three top players including paceman Mohammad Amir, who has since made a comeback.

“The PCB in furtherance to its investigation issued a Notice of Charge and provisionally suspended Irfan under the PCB Anti-Corruption Code,” the body said in a statement.

The 34-year-old, who has represented Pakistan in all forms of international cricket, has been charged with two violations of the PCB’s anti-corruption code and has 14 days to respond to the charge.

“Irfan has been charged with failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department [without unnecessary delay] full details of any approaches or invitations received by a participant to engage in corrupt conduct,” the statement added.

“He has also been provisionally suspended with immediate effect from participating in all forms of cricket.

“The PCB’s investigation will continue with regard to any questionable activity by any player and player support personnel as it carries on with its mission of eliminating the menace of corruption from cricket.”

The PCB said last month it was investigating whether an international betting syndicate was trying to influence matches in the PSL.

It has already suspended batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif for similar allegations and has formed a three-member tribunal, headed by retired judge Asghar Haider, to conduct an inquiry.

All three players represented Islamabad United, led by Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq, in the PSL.

Sharjeel and Khalid were provisionally suspended after Islamabad’s opening match in the United Arab Emirates last month.

Former Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed was also provisionally suspended on charges of being a “go between” in the spot-fixing incident. Nasir and another unnamed person were arrested in Britain last month but were bailed until April.

Irfan and Karachi Kings player Shahzaib Hasan were questioned by the PCB’s anti-corruption unit but were allowed to compete in the tournament.

Irfan appeared before the anti-corruption unit of the PCB on Monday and confessed to being approached by a bookmaker about fixing matches in the past six months.

He admitted he failed to report the incidents because of the death of his father in September followed by his mother’s passing in January.

Shahzaib was scheduled to appear before the PCB’s anti-corruption unit on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2017