PSL spot-fixing case: FIA, PCB reach consensus, sources claim

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GEO NEWS
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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board and Federal Investigative Agency on Wednesday reached consensus over probing the cricketers allegedly involved in spot-fixing in Pakistan Super League 2017, informed sources.

According to sources, the PCB tribunal will first investigate the spot-fixing scandal.

After the tribunal’s probe, the FIA will determine the extent of the offenders' crime, sources said.

The data of the cricketers allegedly involved in the scandal will be handed over to the FIA, after the PCB tribunal’s investigation.

Earlier, Chairman PSL Najam Sethi had said that the PCB had not stopped the FIA from investigating the spot-fixing case and there is no friction between the two institutions.  

Sources at the Interior Ministry had said that the PCB shown reluctance in cooperating with the FIA over the scandal probe.

Chairman PSL Najam Sethi had said that a letter was sent to the FIA requesting verification of the mobile phone apps used by suspended players. It mentioned that the PCB never requested FIA to probe the case.

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.