KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is faced with a dilemma following Mohammad Irfan's admission of meeting a bookie during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and not informing the board about it.
The left-arm seamer's confession raises questions as, according to rules, a player who is contacted by a bookie and does not inform the board is considered guilty of violating the code of conduct.
The question arises that if Irfan was also among the guilty players, then why was he allowed to continue playing for Islamabad United during the Pakistan Super League 2017.
On the other hand, PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan has said that the board had solid evidence against Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif while after investigation about Irfan and Shahzaib Hassan, it would be decided whether the two should be given charge sheet or not.
In a video statement recorded before the PCB's anti-corruption unit, the Islamabad United fast-bowler claimed he could not inform the board about the meeting with bookies as he was under mental stress due to his parents' illness.
Also read: Any player found guilty of fixing to be banned for life, says PCB chairman
Karachi Kings' Shahzaib Hasan, who was also called in along with Irfan for questioning by the PCB, will appear before the ACU on Wednesday.
Irfan and Shahzaib Hasan had also been questioned by the PCB during the tournament in Dubai last month, but were cleared to play in their remaining matches.
The PCB’s ACU will record their statements before determining whether to charge them or not, a PCB spokesperson has said earlier.
Islamabad United openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif have already been charged by the PCB for attempting to spot-fix a match, among other code-of-conduct breaches. The PCB has established a three-member tribunal to hear their cases later this month.
Sources revealed to Geo News over the weekend that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has received mobile phone data of Sharjeel and Latif. The FIA will conduct a forensic evaluation of the mobile phones of both the cricketers.