LAHORE: Suspended cricketer Khalid Latif’s objections to a three-man Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal hearing anti-corruption charges against him have been thrust aside once again – this time by the one-man disciplinary panel appointed by the PCB to look into his objections. Justice (r) Fazal-e-Miran Chohan rejected Latif’s motion after his counsel had challenged the impartiality of the tribunal. The three-man tribunal is headed by Justice (r) Syed Asghar Haider, who has served as a legal advisor to the PCB and also includes former PCB chairman Tauqir Zia and Wasim Bari, who has had a long-standing association with PCB in numerous capacities. This now means Latif has no option but to face proceedings before the original tribunal. He has been boycotting the hearings since May 23 while the PCB pressed ahead with its case in his absence. Latif had also gone to the Lahore High Court to seek intervention but his petitions have been dismissed twice there.
Nasir Jamshed’s case, which concerns alleged non-cooperation in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) investigation and was also due to be heard before the three-man tribunal, has been adjourned. The player’s lawyer, Hasan Warraich, has asked for some more time to collect witness statements from England, a process that had been delayed due to Eid holidays. In the other case in which Jamshed has challenged his provisional suspension, the PCB has sought adjournment, saying it needs time to bring evidence that would support the board’s stance. Jamshed was arrested in February and subsequently released on bail by the UK’s National Crime Agency in relation to the PSL fixing case, a day after the PCB had provisionally suspended him. Jamshed’s lawyer argued the board had “misused†the relevant clause in their anti-corruption code to impose the suspension. He said that Jamshed has to report to the NCA in October. Jamshed does have his passport back now, allowing him to travel.