'No need for commission if Sharjeel, Latif admit guilt'

A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Wednesday, said that there would be no need to form a commission to decide the level of disciplinary action against Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif if the duo admit to the charge of their involvement in spot-fixing.

The two players who were sent back home from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) second edition in Dubai on charges of spot-fixing met head of the PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit, Colonel (retd) Azam in Lahore on Wednesday.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said the two had been called by the ACU chief to hear their version of the story. "They are being heard out and if they want more time they will be given 10 to 15 days to come up their explanation," he said.

Shaharyar made it clear that if the two players admitted to their guilt no commission would be formed to hold proper hearing into the charges against them. "The PCB will decide what to do but one thing is clear exemplary punishment will be given to players involved in wrong doing," Shaharyar added.

However, some legal experts and former players have expressed their surprise on PCB's move to hear the versions of the alleged players.

"It begs clarification as to why hear them out now when the PCB took the decision to send them back from Dubai and suspend them. In a way the PCB declared them guilty of spot-fixing as they were sent back under the anti-corruption code," a legal expert said.

"One would have thought that if the PCB had enough material and evidence to suspend them instead of prolonging this matter, the Board would just appoint a commission under a judge and start the proceedings against the two players," he said.

In the 90s, Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum headed an 18-month long judicial inquiry into fixing allegations against former captains Salim Malik and Wasim Akram, who is director of cricket for Islamabad United in the PSL, current chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, current bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy Mushtaq Ahmed and others.

Qayyum in his findings recommended life ban on Malik and fines on the other players including Wasim for not co-operating with the tribunal.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were also banned for five years for fixing in England in 2010.