Pakistan Super League (PSL): The left-handed Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan, who was banned from all forms of professional cricket, for his alleged role in spot-fixing is all set to be back in action in the next edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Sharjeel Khan was handed a ban of 5 years, but because he cooperated with the anti-corruption unit during the investigation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to suspend 2.5 years of the ban which meant Sharjeel had to serve 2.5 years only.
Sharjeel’s ban period had begun on 30th August, 2017 and will be completed on 30th February, 2019 which makes him eligible to take part in PSL 5 as PSL 5 starts from 20th of February, 2020 and will go on till 22nd of March.
The 30-year old had featured for Islamabad United in the first couple of PSL seasons and was one of their impact players. He scored a hundred in a knockout game of PSL 1 to drive Islamabad to the final.
At the time, Sharjeel was banned, he was a regular member of the Pakistan set-up in limited-over cricket. His career was just peaking when he got caught in the spot fixing scandal.
Sharjeel’s place at the top of the order was taken by Fakhar Zaman who although won Pakistan a Champions Trophy final, but he hasn’t been able to put on consistent performances for the men in green.
Fakhar couldn’t do much in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka either. He was dropped for the first game, but when he was brought back, he scored 6 and 0 in the remaining two games.
With Sharjeel going to be in the frame soon, there is now pressure on Fakhar to deliver. He has been picked in the Pakistan T20I squad for the Australia tour and he will have to make sure he produces good numbers there.
