PCB Anti-Corruption Tribunal starts preliminary hearing

Lahore : The Anti-Corruption Tribunal held its preliminary hearing today at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore and the following were in attendance:

1. Jus. ® Asghar Haider (Chairman)
2. Lt. Gen. ® Tauqir Zia (Member)
3. Mr. Wasim Bari (Member)
4. Mr. Sharjeel Khan, along with Shaigan Ijaz Advocate
5. Mr. Taffazul Rizvi, PCB’s Legal Advisor along with Haider Ali Khan Advocate
6. Mr. Salman Naseer, GM Legal Affairs PCB
7. Col. ® Mohammad Azam Khan, Head of PCB’s Vigilance and Security Department

Counsel for PCB read out the charges leveled against Sharjeel Khan which included breaches of Articles 2.1.1; 2.1.2; 2.1.3; 2.4.4 and 2.4.5 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code for Participants 2015.

The Tribunal in consultation with both parties agreed upon the procedure and timelines to be adopted under the Anti-Corruption Code. PCB shall submit its opening brief detailing its claims along with the evidence to be relied on by 14^th April 2017. This time period has been agreed in order to give the PCB ACU an opportunity to travel to UK to interview Nasir Jamshed and meet with relevant UK authorities and determine if any of its findings are to be incorporated in the prosecution.

Sharjeel Khan shall be provided an opportunity to respond by 5^th May 2017 and PCB may, at its discretion, file a rebuttal by 10^th May 2017. The Final Hearing shall commence from 15^th May 2017 on a day to day basis.

Khalid Latif, Cricketer despite notice has not entered appearance. He made an application for adjournment via email to the Chairman of the Tribunal citing health reasons and requesting that proceedings be adjourned to next week. In the interest of justice the request is allowed and the proceedings in respect of Khalid are adjourned to 11:30am on 31^st March 2017.

Notice would also be issued with a stipulation that no further adjournment would be granted.

Since under the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code the proceedings are meant to be kept confidential, no comments will be made by any party or the Tribunal on the merits of the case.