Pakistan international player Khalid Latif was summoned by its national cricket board after he failed to meet the hearing panel on April 26 over the spot-fixing allegations during the recently concluded second edition of Pakistan Super League.
PCB in its fresh press release has termed the allegations baseless which was levelled by Latif in his letter on April 24 against the board before adding that he should appear on May 2 for the tribunal hearing.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Vigilance and Security Department has responded to cricketer Latif’s letter received on April 24 and has vehemently rejected the frivolous, baseless and false allegations levelled in the letter,” the PCB release stated.
The reports suggested Khalid cited a concern over the meeting while questioning the fairness from the inquiry committee sitting for the investigation.
“Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of Article 4.3 of the code Latif is again directed to appear before the PCB Vigilance and Security Department for an interview on Tuesday May 2, 2017,” the PCB statement read.
Earlier, Latif was told to present himself before the Vigilance and Security Department of the PCB, the right-handed batsman failed to attend the meeting that time too.
Latif, who was part of PSL franchise Islamabad United, did not appear before the three-member tribunal committee after notice was dispatched to him on April 17.
“The PCB Anti-Corruption Unit has to date acceded to all permissible requests by Latif and extended full cooperation as permitted under the Anti-Corruption Code. But regrettably Latif’s actions appear to be solely aimed at frustrating and obstructing the ongoing investigations,” it added.
The top-order batsman Latif is facing the charges of six Code of Conduct breaches which further have been set for the Anti-Corruption Code for PCB.
“Latif is once again reminded of his obligations under the code which mandates his full cooperation with the PCB Vigilance and Security Department in its investigation. Latif’s non-appearance at the aforementioned interview may result in further breaches of Articles 2.4.6 and 2.4.7 of the code,” it concluded.
Latif was provisionally suspended following the reports of spot-fixing scandal surfaced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during recently concluded Pakistan Super League which further saw the suspension of four other players before fast bowler Mohammad was banned from all forms of cricket for one year last month.