LAHORE: With the latest inclusion of a person, named Mohammad Ijaz, as a prime suspect in the Pakistan Super League spot-fixing scam England’s National Crime Agency (NCA) is believed to have gathered credible evidence which may increase the circle of investigation to a large extent, well-informed sources told Dawn.

Previously two names — cricketer Nasir Jamshed and reported as bookie Mohammad Yousuf — were mentioned as prime suspects in the spot-fixing scandal that surfaced during the second edition of Pakistan Super League T20 tournament held in the UAE in February-March this year.

However, according to the fresh information received through the NCA, Mohammad Ijaz, also living in England, is also involved in the scam.

Five Pakistani cricketers — Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed — are allegedly involved in the PSL spot-fixing case.

Test pacer Irfan, however, has been excluded from the above list after the lanky left-arm paceman confessed that he was contacted by a bookie but could not inform the PCB about the contact in time. As a result, Irfan was suspended for one year and fined Rs1 million.

According to sources, a letter from the NCA was received, claiming the agency had gathered vital information, which may increase the circle of the investigation.

After receiving the letter, PCB lawyer requested the anti-corruption tribunal to stop the day-to-day hearing in Sharjeel’s case. The tribunal will announce its decision on that request on Friday.

Sources said though so far only five cricketers are facing the charges and no name of any official of the participating teams or the PCB emerged in the scam, after receiving the fresh information from the NCA the finger may be pointed at any official.

Nasir Jamshed, sources said, was on bail in England but the NCA believes that the credible information it has gathered will be enough to prove the cricketer and two of his accomplices guilty, and send them behind bars.

The next hearing in the case of Nasir’s bail is to be held during the last week of June. And after that hearing, the NCA will share the information with the PCB anti-corruption unit.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2017