“I don’t think most cricket boards and players will now be as receptive and supportive for the PSL”

Image courtesy of: The Express Tribune

Legendary Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad has expressed his concern for the future of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Miandad’s comments come after two Islamabad United players – Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif – were provisionally suspended and sent home in the midst of a corruption investigation being conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC).

Mohammad Irfan, Zulfiqar Babar and Shahzaib Hasan were also questioned, but not suspended.

According to Dunya News, Sharjeel was allegedly offered Rs 2 million by a bookie named Yousaf to play two dot balls.

“I don’t think most cricket boards and players will now be as receptive and supportive for the PSL,” Miandad said. “I fear the top players who care for their reputations will stay away from it. Only those players will come who want to make money.

“Our league was free of such controversies but now the PSL is also damaged and I don’t think it will be the same again.”

While Miandad is worried about the reputation of the competition, former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail was not surprised about the investigation.

“T20 leagues and tournaments are soft targets to corrupt players and we have seen it happen in domestic T20 matches as well in recent times,” he said. “The PCB should have been very careful while launching the PSL in Dubai which is home to syndicates.”

Ex-opening batsman and chief selector Mohsin Khan added: “I am saddened by what has happened but we shouldn’t be surprised because the PCB itself is to blame for not taking stringent steps and banning corrupt players for life.”

As for former spinner Iqbal Qasim, he acknowledged that the PSL’s prestige may have been damaged beyond repair.

“I am very angry because don’t these players realise the damage they do to our cricket and the PSL with such selfish acts,” he said.