PCB rejects Sharjeel's appeal for relaxation in the spot fixing ban

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected Sharjeel’s appeal to allow him to play domestic cricket. Earlier, Sharjeel was involved in the spot-fixing scandal, eventually getting ban by the board to playing cricket.

A senior official of the PCB said that Sharjeel’s application was submitted by his lawyer and had been discussed at the recent Board of Governors meeting. The application suggested a plea for allowing him to play domestic cricket and club cricket.

"Sharjeel in his application had appealed to the Board chairman, Ehsan Mani to use his discretionary powers under the anti-corruption code and give him relaxation to play domestic and club cricket before his ban ends in late August,” Sharjeel’s lawyer, Shaigan Ejaz said.

Shaigan said that the appeal was made on the grounds to Mani that the PCB had earlier given relaxation to Mohammad Amir, who had deliberately bowled no-ball against England a few years back and allowed him to start playing club and domestic cricket before his five-year-long ban ended.

On this, the PCB official said that “After much debate, the governing board members had decided that Sharjeel should only be allowed to resume once his ban expires in August.”

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Sharjeel, a dashing opener, was suspended and sent back home after the start of the second Pakistan Super League edition in Dubai in February 2017 and was later banned for five years for breaching five clauses of the anti-corruption code.

Interestingly, the anti-corruption tribunal of the PCB, which banned Sharjeel, had later suspended half of his five-year ban.

Sharjeel has made one Test, 25 ODIs, and 15 T20 Internationals appearances. In his short career, Sharjeel has scored one century and eight half-centuries.

Mohammad Amir has been a little lucky to get back into the scheme of things, and also had the skiddy pace which no other Pakistan bowler had then. It will be interesting to see if Sharjeel can make a comeback to the national squad once his ban is lifted as the men-in-green are in a good state now. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sharjeel doesn't get any relaxation in his tenure ban. 
• He has made 25 ODI and 15 T20 appearances for Pakistan. 
• Sharjeel was banned during the second season of PSL.