PCB issues spot-fixing ultimatum to Sharjeel Khan
Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan on Sunday completed his 30-month ban owing to his alleged involvement in a spot-fixing issue. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued an ultimatum to him and have asked him to admit his wrongdoing in the issue. He has also been asked to attend the Anti-Corruption rehabilitation program prior to resuming his career. Here's more.
Sharjeel was banned by PCB in 2017
In 2017, following an investigation, Sharjeel was found guilty of being involved in a spot-fixing case in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), playing for Islamabad United. As a result, PCB had initially banned him for five years from all forms of cricket. However, the board later decided that half of his ban would remain suspended for the time being.
Sharjeel needs to admit wrong-doings prior to resuming cricket
Sharjeel can resume playing cricket hereon. However, he can only do it once he has admitted his wrong-doing during the spot-fixing, a PCB official opined. He also added that players like Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif had done the same prior to resuming their careers.
"Sharjeel wants to play cricket again"
"Sharjeel wants to play cricket again and once we get an answer from the PCB, we will see where things stand," Shaighan Ejaz, Sharjeel's lawyer, was quoted as saying, as reported by PTI.
Sharjeel ready to undergo rehabilitation process: Ejaz
Meanwhile, Ejaz has also written to the PCB, saying that Sharjeel was ready to undergo the rehabilitation process, which would allow him to return to playing cricket at the earliest. He also said that the rehabilitation had a clause which said that the player can resume playing cricket after admitting his mistake and showing remorse for his actions.
Chance for Sharjeel to breath in a new life
While Sharjeel did suffer a setback and has served his punishment for his wrong-doings, the author feels he should serve one last apology to the PCB as per the rehabilitation clause. Being a prolific cricketer, this would once again allow his career to get back on track and could scale greater heights. He can take tremendous inspiration from Mohammad Amir, who suffered the same.
