A top official of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) confirmed that Pakistani players Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were sent home from the league only after the Pakistan Cricket Board's Anti-Corruption Unit caught them red-handed after the duo had made commitments to the spot-fixers.
Najam Sethi, who heads the PSL and is chairman of the PCB's executive committee, said the ACU had collected enough material against the two but waited till the players played the first match to see whether they would fulfill the commitments they made to the bookies' syndicate.
"We knew what commitments they had made. Islamabad United played Sharjeel but not Khalid. But when the match was held it was confirmed Sharjeel had done what he had committed to do to the bookmakers," Sethi said on Tuesday.
Sharjeel, playing for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League T20 competition, was dismissed cheaply after facing a few balls -- leg before wicket for one.
Sethi said the PCB faced a difficult situation after the ACU had gathered enough
"We were not sure whether to make the announcement before the PSL began as we feared it could hit the event or after the match but we decided to wait and see what happened in the match and than we sent them back. We were worried how the whole thing could affect the PSL and its reputation but we took a decision which we felt was right," Sethi said.
He also confirmed there are other players under investigation in the PSL but insisted matters relating to them are not as serious as that of Sharjeel and Khalid.
"Let me assure you we have now taken a decision that we will show zero tolerance for corrupt players and there is no question of trying to protect anyone. If any other player is found involved after the investigations no leniency will be shown to him."
Sethi also clarified that it was the Pakistan Cricket Board's ACU, headed by retired colonel Azam, which had led the operation against Sharjeel, Khalid and other players, and they had also kept the International Cricket Council in the loop.
"Yes, the ICC's ACU was also aware of everything but credit goes to our ACU which followed up the whole issue thoroughly and came up with enough material and evidence to chargesheet the players and send them back home," he added.
