Irfan banned for year after breaching PCB's anti-corruption code

Mohammad Irfan admitted two charges in a written statement submitted to the Pakistan Cricket Board this week.

Mohammad Irfan has been banned for a year by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after pleading guilty to two breaches of its anti-corruption code.

The Pakistan paceman was provisionally suspended this month after being questioned by the PCB's anti-corruption unit (ACU) in February as part of an investigation related to the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Irfan, who has made 84 appearances for his country in all formats, was alleged to have failed to disclose full details of approaches and invitations received by him to engage in corrupt conduct.

The giant 34-year-old's international career could now be over after he admitted the charges levelled against him and was banned for 12 months, half of which will be suspended if no further breaches of the PCB code are made in the next year and no other previous offences come to light.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and PSL counterpart Najam Sethi said: "It is important for all players to take note and be reminded of their responsibilities and obligations under the PCB anti-corruption code and that no form of corrupt activity shall ever be tolerated by PCB."

AFP adds:

USD 10,000 after he admitted failing to report approaches by bookmakers linked to spot-fixing, cricket authorities said on Wednesday. The 34-year-old said he had not spoken out at the time because he was under mental stress following the death of his parents.

"I accept my mistake," he told a press conference at the Pakistan Cricket Board's headquarters in Lahore. "I was asked to carry out fixes but I did not commit any such crime. My mistake was not reporting these offers. I confess and say sorry to the fans," he added.

Mohammad Azam, head of the PCB's anti-corruption unit, said the player's admission meant he was not required to appear before a tribunal which is set to hear the cases of four other players linked to the scandal. Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Shahzaib Hasan and Nasir Jamshed have all been ensnared in the saga which took place around the Pakistan Super League held earlier this month.

Azam added that Irfan could be eligible to return from his suspension six months early if he took part in lectures on the importance of anti-corruption laws.