ICC to investigate corrupt approach made to Sarfraz

Cricket365
October 22, 2017

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Ajam confirmed that a player in the national team was the target of an allegedly corrupt approach after the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The ESPNCricinfo website reports that Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was the player approached and he immediately reported it to the PCB who passed it on to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption unit (ACU).

Sethi tweeted: “A player was approached. As per rules he immediately reported to PCB who informed ICC. Matters are jointly in hand. No further comment.”

The corrupt approach to Sarfraz comes with the PCB still investigating match-fixing claims made in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) this year.

Sharjeel Khan and Khaled Latif, who have both represented Pakistan in international cricket, have already received five-year bans for the role in the case.

Pace bowler Mohammad Irfan was banned for one year, six months of which were suspended, and fined one million rupees while spinning all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz was banned for two months (one suspended) and fined 200 000 rupees ($2 000) for failing to report fixing offers at various stages.

Pakistan have a history of fixing related incidents with three of their top players – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – banned for five years in a spot-fixing scandal on the team’s tour of England in 2010.

A judicial inquiry on fixing ended in life bans on Salim Malik and Ataur Rehman and fines on six players Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saeed Anwar and Akram Raza in 2000.