The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday (September 21) has banned top-order batsman Khalid Latif from all forms of cricket for five-long years after being found guilty in the spot-fixing case which grabbed the headlines during the second edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL), in February this year.
Adhering to the strict role for maligning the gentleman’s game, the right-handed opening batsman Latif was slapped with a worth PKR one million fine.
Latif, who donned Pakistan [national] colors, can challenge and file the response following the severe punishment from PCB like his teammate Sharjeel, who eventually was exempted from the staggering fine.
The Board’s official Twitter handle broke the news while giving out a brief statement on Khalid’s suspension.
Anti Corruption Tribunal has found Khalid Latif guiltily of all charges, therefore has announced a ban of 5 years & a fine of PKR 1 Million
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 20, 2017
The 31-year-old Karachi-born batsman Latif was facing at least six charges for his dubious role in the spot-fixing saga.
While talking to the media gathering, PCB’s legal representative Taffazul Rizvi stated he would not like to discuss to its length and breadth regarding the verdict, as they are yet to receive the comprehensive copy of the decision.
“We can’t say right now if the verdict is lenient or not as we’ve not received the full verdict,” Rizvi Rizvi was quoted by Pakistan media,.
Pertinently, Latif was representing the PSL franchise Islamabad United alongside Sharjeel which further raged the administration back in Pakistan when the tournament was scheduled in the United Arab Emirates.
Owing to the involvement in spot-fixing during the professional competition, Latif was earlier charged alongside six other Pakistani international players which further saw Sharjeel Khan being slapped a five-year ban by Lahore High court, in the last week of August.
“Once we will, only then we can decide how to move ahead.” Rizvi asserted.
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Latif was also charged with influencing his teammates Sharjeel and fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, who however served his six-month ban, after being grilled by the Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit in March.
While talking about the no control over particular jurisdiction, in a bid to trial the bookie, Rizvi reiterated the Board is bound to question its players, who are fetching the lucrative contracts within the parameters of the Board itself.
“We can only trial our players, who were centrally contracted with the board,” Rizvi was quoted by The Express Tribune.
After breaching the PCB’s Code of Conduct according to PCB’s ACU, Latif alongside Sharjeel in the recent past has always echoed for the independent adjudicator while being summoned by the Board-appointed tribunal.
The PCB framed a three-member tribunal committee in March which was comprised of former retired justice of Lahore Asghar Haider Rizvi, Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia and former Pakistan gloveman Wasim Bari.
Failing to leave an early impact, Latif made his international debut in 2008 against Zimbabwe at Faisalabad. His last international came against West Indies at Abu Dhabi in September 2016.
Sharjeel went on to play 13 Twenty20 internationals and five One-day internationals.