PSL spot-fixing: Yousuf says Sharjeel played dot balls ‘genuinely’

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League's spot-fixing case took a new turn on Monday as former Test cricketer Mohammad Yousuf gave his statement in favour of suspended player Sharjeel Khan before the tribunal.

Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, the former right-hand batsman said: “I think he has played the deliveries genuinely,” adding, “if the case is solely based on it [the dot balls] then it must be brought to an end.”

He also said that no batsman can play dot balls intentionally.

Earlier, Islamabad United coach Dean Jones has also testified at the tribunal hearing saying two dot balls played by Sharjeel during a PSL match were not suspicious from a cricketing perspective.

The allegation relates to a match played between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi held in Dubai in February, in which Sharjeel scored a single off four deliveries including two dots.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has accused him of agreeing to a spot-fixing plan and of failing to report offers to fix, charges which carry a ban ranging from five years to life if found guilty.

Sharjeel’s lawyer Shaigan Aijaz, who is representing him at a closed-door tribunal, said: "Jones has told the tribunal that Sharjeel played dot balls on merit and that he has no reservations about Sharjeel’s shot selection."

Bowlers Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Nawaz, who also featured in the second edition of the Twenty20 tournament have so far been suspended for failing to report offers to fix.

The fate of batsmen Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed and Shahzaib Hasan has yet to be decided.