Pakistan cricketer banned for two years for breaching PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code
Pakistan cricketer Asif Afridi has been banned for two years. He was suspended for two separate breaches of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Anti-Corruption Code. He was temporarily suspended for the same on September 12, 2022, and his suspension will end two years from the date the ban goes into effect.
The more serious breach of the code comes in the violation of Article 2.4.10, as per a report in ESPNcricinfo. This involves “directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach any of the foregoing provisions of this Article 2.4.”This offence resulted in a two-year penalty.
The left-arm spinner’s second offence is a violation of Article 2.4.4. This deals with failing to report corrupt practices. For this offence, he was also given a six-month penalty and it would run concurrently with the two-year ban.
Need to make examples, handle such matters robustly, Says PCB chairman Najam Sethi
While talking about the incident, the PCB chairman Najam Sethi claimed that the board had taken into account the cricketer’s admission of guilt, degree of regret, and prior record despite the fact that the offences might result in a lifelong ban.
“It gives the PCB no joy to suspend an international cricketer for two years, but we have a zero-tolerance approach towards such offences,” the PCB chairman was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“As the game’s governing body, we need to make examples, handle such matters robustly and send out strong messages to all cricketers. It is bitter fact that corruption poses a threat to our sport as selfish corrupters lure cricketers in different ways and methods. That’s precisely why the PCB has been investing heavily on player education so that they remain vigilant and can help the PCB eradicate this menace by reporting approaches. If, despite all our best efforts to create awareness, a player falls victim to his greed, then the PCB has no sympathy,” Sethi added.
Afridi hasn’t participated in Pakistan’s national team’s international cricket matches. However, he was included in the T20I and ODI squads for Australia’s tour to Pakistan in 2022. The 36-year-old cricketer has also featured in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Multan Sultans last year.
