Shahzaib Hasan scored 19 and 0 in the two chances he got in the recent PSL © PCB
Shahzaib Hasan has become the fifth Pakistan player to be provisionally suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board amid ongoing investigations into alleged corruption in the Pakistan Super League. Shahzaib was suspended with immediate effect from participating in all forms of cricket for allegedly failing to report a corrupt approach in time and with full details, and for allegedly inducing players in corruption indirectly. He was charged for breaching three major clauses – 2.1.4, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5 and was given 14 days to respond to the charge sheet, the PCB has confirmed.
Shahzaib, along with Mohammad Irfan, had been summoned by the PCB in relation to their investigation into alleged corruption in the PSL. ESPNcricinfo understands that Shahzaib underwent two days of investigation in which he was questioned about his terms with already suspended Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif and was asked the reason of delay in reporting the details of corrupt approach. He had previously come forward to report the approach in Dubai but with a three-day delay.
Irfan was earlier suspended for failing to report a corrupt approach. The spot-fixing scandal broke when batsmen Sharjeel and Latif were charged in February but since they were contesting some of the charges, an independent tribunal was set up to look into their case. Former Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed was suspended and arrested in the UK as part of the same investigation, later let out on bail.
It has been more than six years since Shahzaib last played for Pakistan and the only highlight of his brief international career was featuring in the World T20 squad in 2009. His flamboyant batting has been a defining feature with an impressive T20 strike rate of 137.64 but his inconsistency in domestic cricket never allowed him to regain his national place. He played three ODIs and 10 T20Is between 2009 and 2010. Two weeks before the PSL in UAE this year, he scored 171 off 117 in the semi-final of the Regional One Day Cup but could not extend his form with Karachi Kings, playing two games to score 19 and 0.
Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo