PCB finalises inquiry against its officials

LAHORE: Pakistan's board has said an internal inquiry against two of its officials, including former Test umpire Nadeem Ghouri, would be finalised shortly.

The allegations were broadcast only days after the final of the World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka, knocking some of the gloss off one of the game's premier events.

David Richardson, chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), said the ban on Nadir Shah reflected a commitment among the games rulers "to root out corruption from our great sport".

"This decision also reiterates cricket's zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and should serve as a reminder to all stakeholders, be they umpires, players, curators or administrators of the risks and challenges the sport faces," said Richardson.

"We can only beat the corrupters by remaining vigilant and by following the procedures and protocols which are in place."

Shah was among the umpires at the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League last year, a local version of India's high-octane IPL Twenty20 tournament.

The competition was marred by corruption allegations and ended up with former Bangladeshi international Shariful Haque being indefinitely banned.

While ICC anti-corruption officials help to police the IPL, the international game's governing body has expressed concern about other leagues including the Bangladesh tournament.

Cricket has been embroiled in a number of corruption scandals in recent years.

Three Pakistani cricketers, including former captain Salman Butt, were jailed in Britain in 2011 after being found guilty of spot-fixing following a newspaper sting. (AFP)