The ongoing season of Pakistan Super League (PSL 2024) has already started to attract attention for all the wrong reasons, as several people have been ordered to stay away from four suspicious people. They have already been shown the images of the suspected individuals, as the tournament has already started generating news related to match-fixing.
According to a report by Cricket Pakistan, one of the four individuals is a former Pakistan regional cricket coach, two are Indian and one is Bangladeshi. People associated with the PSL franchises were reportedly instructed to avoid any contact with the suspected persons. They have also been ordered to immediately approach anti-corruption officials to report any suspicious activity.
The report further states that PCB has not fully booked the team hotel. As a result, there are no restrictions on the regular movement of people, although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken several measures to prevent bookmakers disguised as fans from meeting players.
Players have been instructed to inform the referees if they receive any gift exceeding Rs 25,000. Players have also been prohibited from ordering food outside the team hotel. In 2017, the PSL was rocked by a match-fixing scandal that eventually led to the suspension of Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Irfan and Shahzaib Hasan.
PSL 2024 so far:
The PSL 2024 started on February 17 with the match between the defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United. Four of the six teams have played two matches so far, while Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings have played one match each. Multan Sultans are currently on top of the points table after winning their first two games.
Quetta Gladiators also won their two games but are in second place due to net run rate. Islamabad is at 3rd place with 1 win from 2 games while Qalandars, Zalmi and Kings are yet to open their accounts.
