Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been handed a 12-month ban, with six months suspended, and a fine of one million Pakistani rupees (Rs 6.2 lakh approximately) for not reporting approaches by illegal bookmakers during the Pakistan Super League, Pakistan Cricket Board informed through a statement on Wednesday.
The pacer was charged with two violations of the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code. It was alleged that Irfan had not disclosed the full details of suspicious approaches to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department, on more than one occasion.
Irfan denied that he was directly involved in fixing and pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to report approaches from bookmakers.
“I was approached twice and it was my mistake that I did not report it to PCB’s anti-corruption unit,” Irfan was quoted as saying by the Cricket Australia website. “I admit my mistake for not reporting it to the ACU but I didn’t get involved in any corrupt activity and gave a shut-up call to those who approached me. I ask the whole nation to forgive me if anyone is hurt by this mistake of mine. I hope you will forgive me,” he told reporters.
Irfan was part of the Islamabad United team that won the inaugural of the PSL. There are several other cricketers under the scanner for not reporting illegal approaches.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board had provisionally suspended Irfan as well as Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed from playing any form of cricket for violating anti-corruption code during the PSL.
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