KARACHI: Pakistan’s top sports administrator Arif Ali Khan Abbasi has expressed his surprise over the framing of Pakistan players Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan and others in Pakistan Super League (PSL) spot-fixing case without much solid evidence being produced against them so far.

“There were claims by Najam Sethi and the Anti Corruption Unit officials in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that they have got solid evidence against the players accused of spot-fixing in PSL, but nothing concrete has come to surface so far,” said Abbasi while speaking to Dawn in his reaction to the much-trumpeted scandal here on Friday.

“Why were Irfan and Shahzaib allowed to feature in the PSL if the PCB Anti-corruption Unit had solid evidences against them,” he asked. “While Sharjeel and Khalid were sent home early, nothing solid has been produced against them which is creating doubts in people’s minds.”

“The tall claims of solid evidence against players by PSL chairman Najam Sethi has made mockery of Pakistan cricket and has caused further damage to the already tarnished image of Pakistan cricket,” he stated.

It may be mentioned here that Sharjeel, Khalid, Irfan, Shahzaib have been suspended from all cricket along with collaborator Nasir Jamashed for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing in the second edition of PSL in Dubai last February.

A three-man tribunal headed by Justic Asghar Haider with former PCB chief retired Lt Gen Tauqir Zia and former wicketkeeper Wasim Bari as members has been formed by the PCB to probe the case.

Giant pacer Irfan has admitted his mistake of not reporting to PCB the contacts made by bookies and has been banned for six-month besides being fined.

However, batsman Khalid Latif’s lawyer has already filed a petition against the fairness of the trial by the Tribunal.

Abbasi, a former PCB chief executive and ex-Pakistan Hockey Federation head, believed that the issue was diverted from what happened at the opening ceremony of PSL when the opening game between holders Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi was delayed for over an hour due to dismantling a steel structure.

“You own the ground during an event. So how did that happen and the match was delayed,” he asked while expressing his apprehension over the delay. “This problem was diverted with the spot-fixing issue and the much trumpeted evidences against the players,” he remarked.

The PCB constituted an anti-corruption tribunal under retired Justice Asghar Haider which also included retired Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, ex-Pakistan captain Wasim Bari as it members are hearing the alleged spot-fixing case against the players.

Speaking about the chances of return of international cricket to Pakistan, he said they are being dampened due to “our wrong policies and improper handling of affairs.”

“Why did the PCB issue statements against Federation of International Cricket Association (FICA). That was a big mistake. We need to take them (FICA) into confidence,” he argued. “There were bomb blasts and security and civil war issues in different Test-playing countries like Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh and even in England. But things are normal there because visiting teams have confidence in them,” he added.

“What message is the PCB giving to ICC officials when they are being received amid big contingent of gun-carrying security agencies? After that they don’t need to visit stadia for inspection.

“The PCB has failed to build the confidence of the foreign teams in our security and that is our main problem,” he said.

Abbasi, under whose tenure Pakistan jointly hosted the 1987 and 1996 World Cups with India and Sri Lanka, also questioned the working of the PCB without a general body which controls the game. “How could a few people within the governing board can elect the chairman of PCB,” he asked. “And how come the ad-hoc committees are still functioning in the Board. They are only formed for short periods and not for decades,” Abbasi commented.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2017