The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)-appointed Anti-Corruption Unit on Wednesday awarded Sharjeel Khan a five-year ban in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) spot-fixing case, DawnNews reported.

According to DawnNews, Khan will not be able to play any form of cricket for at least 30 months, after which he may be allowed to play domestic cricket until the completion of the ban — subject to the terms and conditions set by PCB.

Talking to the media after the decision was announced, Khan's lawyer Sheghan Ijaz said that once a detailed verdictis released by the tribunal, they will file an appeal.

"We have reservations over the decision; it is not what we expected," he said, adding that the verdict will probably be released Eidul Azha, following which they will have 14 days to file an appeal.

PCB Chairman Najam Sethi hailed the decision as vindication of the board's "policy of zero tolerance against corrupt practices in the game."

He commended PCB's anti-corruption and vigilance department "for identifying the culprits and nipping the spot-fixing scandal in the bud through their prompt action."

Sharjeel along with four other cricketers were charged under different clauses of being involved in the spot-fixing scam which surfaced on the opening day of the second edition of PSL in Dubai earlier this year.

After the final of the PSL on March 5 in Lahore, it was decided to form a tribunal with former PCB chairman retired Lt Gen Tauqir Zia and ex-Pakistan captain Wasim Bari as its members. The panel began hearing against Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Shahzaib Hasan and Sharjeel Khan.

Irfan was cleared with a ban of one-year and a hefty fine while the cases of Latif, Jamshed and Hasan are still under progress.