DUBAI: Former captain and Peshawar Zalmi all-rounder Shahid Khan Afridi on Sunday called for a life ban for players who are involved in corrupting the game.
Speaking to Geo News, Afridi said that spot-fixing in Pakistan cricket would continue until Pakistan Cricket Board set an example by banning such players.
“These things will continue unless we make an example out of them (players involved in corruption). Ban cricket for them forever. Don’t even let them play domestic cricket. Only then you can stop such incidents”, Afridi said.
Star all-rounder said that the players know that even if they get caught, they will only have to undergo a five-year ban and then they can continue with their cricket.
Afridi further said that the player that were previously involved in spot-fixing were on the verge of making a comeback to the national squad, adding that certain people were trying to get them a place in the team.
PCB, on Friday, suspended two cricketers — Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan — for their alleged links with an international syndicate that attempted to corrupt the Pakistan Super League.
A formal charge sheet is being prepared by the PCB against the two national cricketers for spot-fixing in Pakistan Super League, reliable sources told geo.tv.
A highly-placed source told geo.tv on Sunday that the PCB has enough evidence that two cricketers agreed to spot fixing in meeting with the suspected bookie, who is named as Yousaf.
“We have good evidence against these two,” said the source on condition of anonymity, adding that one player quickly reported the approach to the board while two others remained silence, but they didn’t agree to the offer.
On Saturday, PSL chairman Najam Sethi said an inquiry into Sharjeel Khan and Khalif Latif being linked to an international syndicate trying to corrupt Pakistan’s T20 league will take 10-15 days.
“The matter will move forward after the inquiry is complete,” Sethi said. – Agencies
