PCB bans Nasir Jamshed for one year in spot-fixing probe

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has banned former batsman Nasir Jamshed for one year for non-cooperation with the board in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) spot-fixing probe.

The board’s anti-corruption tribunal on Monday declared Jamshed guilty of violating its code for “obstruction and non-cooperation” in the spot-fixing case.

The former opener was charged with violating two articles, 2.4.6 and 2.4.7, of the PCB’s anti-corruption code, one of which was “obstruction and non-cooperation” under which he has now been banned from cricket for a year.

"Anti Corruption Tribunal has imposed one year ban on cricketer Nasir Jamshed for non-co-operation with PCB ACU, more charges will be brought up in near future," the PCB said on its official Twitter account.

The PCB’s anti-corruption unit is soon to bring forward main charges against him in the fixing case. 

The board believes Jamshed played a central role in the spot-fixing scandal which hit PSL earlier this year. He was arrested by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) in February, the same day he was provisionally suspended by the PCB for allegedly violating its anti-corruption code. He was later released on bail.

“The duration of the ban isn’t enough. In my opinion, the facilitator is the biggest culprit when it comes to spot-fixing and should be punished more severely than the players,” said former cricketer and analyst Sikander Bakht while speaking to Geo News. 

Openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif have already been suspended by the PCB for five years after the tribunal found them guilty of playing a role in the spot-fixing.

Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz were also suspended for twelve and two months, respectively, for not reporting the corrupt approach to the board in a timely manner.

The probe is ongoing against Karachi Kings batsman Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed.