Cricketer Zeeshan Malik suspended under PCB Anti-Corruption Code

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday provisionally suspended Zeeshan Malik of Northern Cricket Association under Article 4.7.1 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code.

According to the statement issued by the cricket board, the right-handed batter cannot take part in any cricket-related activity pending the investigation being carried out by the board’s Anti-Corruption Unit.

Article 4.7.1 read as: Where either: (a) the PCB decides to charge a Participant with an offence under this Anti-Corruption Code; or (b) the PCB considers that there are other exceptional circumstances relevant to a Participant (for example, where any relevant police authority has arrested and/or charged a Participant with an offence under any relevant criminal law in respect of facts or circumstances that may also constitute an offence under this Anti-Corruption Code), it shall have the discretion, in circumstances where it considers that the integrity of the sport could otherwise be seriously undermined, to Provisionally Suspend the Participant pending the Anti-Corruption Tribunal’s determination of whether he/she has committed an offence. Any decision to Provisionally Suspend the Participant will be communicated to the Participant in writing, with a copy sent at the same time to the ICC and, where applicable, the National Cricket Federation to which the Participant is affiliated.

Zeeshan Malik last played in the National T20 Cup semi-final against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and scored 29 off 21. “As this is an ongoing investigation, the PCB will not make any further comments,” the statement added.