Sharjeel, Latif and Irfan met bookies, did not inform board: PCB Chairman

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan on Friday said both the suspended players, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, admitted in their official statements that they had met bookies.

The PCB chairman, who appeared before a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination chaired by Senator Mushahidullah, said Islamabad United players Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif and Mohammad Irfan met the bookie named Yousuf during the Pakistan Super League but did not inform the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

According to Shahryar Khan, the evidence gathered by the ACU shows that Sharjeel followed through on his agreement with the bookie in Islamabad United’s opening match in PSL. Latif was willing to do the same but he did not play that match. Mohammad Irfan, however, did not pay attention to the bookie’s instructions but he still did not notify the board, due to which the pacer is still under investigation, Khan elaborated.

Nasir Jamshed arranged meeting with bookie

The PCB chairman informed the committee that bookies do not approach players directly. They either make contacts with the players’ relatives or former players who can get them in touch with their intended targets.

“The bookie Yousuf met Nasir Jamshed, and both of them came to Dubai from London. Nasir Jamshed said to the players that a man wants to meet them, and arranged meeting of Sharjeel, Latif and Irfan with the bookie,” Khan explained.

The PCB’s ACU, however, was alert throughout and knew such an incident could happen, which is why such swift action was taken against the players, the chairman added.

“Match fixing is universal. Bookies come to wherever T20 matches are played. They also come to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The first edition of PSL was successful, hence the bookies came to the second edition of the league,” Khan noted.