Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has banned spinner Asif Afridi from playing all cricket formats for two years due to corruption charges. Afridi, 36, has admitted to violating two different provisions of the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code for Participants.
In a statement issued by the PCB, it was stated that “For the breach of Article 2.4.10, Afridi was handed a two-year period of ineligibility, while he was given a six-month ban for the violation of Article 2.4.4. Both the periods of ineligibility will run concurrently and will commence from the day of his provisional suspension, which commenced on September 12, 2022.”
The PCB took into consideration Afridi’s admission of guilt, expression of remorse, past track record, and request for leniency in its decision. Management Committee Chairman of the PCB, Najam Sethi, said that the board has a zero-tolerance approach towards such offenses. Sethi emphasized the importance of sending out a strong message to all cricketers and making an example of such cases.
Sethi further stated that corruption poses a threat to cricket and that the PCB has been investing in player education to prevent such occurrences. He stated that if a player falls victim to corruption despite the best efforts of the PCB, then the board has no sympathy. The ban of Asif Afridi serves as a reminder that the PCB will take strong action against any form of corruption in the sport of cricket.
