Sethi says no friction between PCB and FIA in spot-fixing case

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ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Super League Najam Sethi said on Tuesday that the Pakistan Cricket Board has not stopped the Federal Investigation Agency from investigating the spot-fixing case and there is no friction between the two institutions.  

Speaking on his show Aapas Ki Baat, Sethi, however, questioned how FIA could pursue criminal investigation when the five suspended players have not yet been found guilty of committing the crime by the tribunal.

The PSL chairman requested that the FIA focus on cricket bookies and put them behind bars – a move which PCB is not mandated to make.

Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said that the FIA does not need any permission from anyone to initiate investigations against the suspended cricketers; he also directed the agency to work alongside the PCB in PSL spot-fixing case.

Sources within the Interior Ministry claimed earlier that the PCB has shown reluctance in cooperating with the FIA in probing the five cricketers allegedly involved in spot-fixing in PSL 2017.

Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan and Shahzaib Hasan have been provisionally suspended from all forms of cricket for violating the PCB’s anti-corruption code. Sharjeel and Latif, who were suspended during the opening week of the PSL for suspected links with an international fixing syndicate, face a minimum five years’ ban.

Batsman Shahzaib, who was charged and suspended last week, also faces a minimum five years' ban. Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan faces a minimum six months' ban.

Nasir Jamshed, who resides in the UK, was suspended during PSL after the PCB said it had 'concrete evidence' against the former opener. He was arrested along with another suspect by Britain's National Crime Agency last month as part of investigations but later released on bail, according to reports.