DUBAI: Bitten by a spot-fixing scandal last year, the Pakistan Cricket Board has hired an international website to curb corruption in the third edition of the Pakistan Super League, sources said on Thursday.
The PSL kicked off in Dubai in a glittering ceremony on Thursday, hoping it doesn’t get marred by an wrongdoing like the last year when Islamabad United openers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were caught in a scandal.
Sharjeel and Khalid were charged for arranging dot balls in return for money in the opening game against Peshawar Zalmi on the first day of the second edition of the PSL.
“The website will monitor any extraordinary attempt of betting and in case there is one they will inform the anti-corruption unit of the PCB in time to monitor the attempt,” said sources privy to the deal.
The PCB will also monitor the pitch siding, a term used to define attempts to give details to the bookies regarding an ongoing match from the ground.
“In case a spectator is providing information to bookies from the ground on mobile then the anti-corruption staff will arrest him and throw him out of the ground,” said sources.
Around 100 such people, mostly Indians, were expelled from the grounds during the Bangladesh Premier League last year.
“All six teams are monitored through PCB security officers while there are two officers with Lahore Qalandars as they are staying in a separate hotel from the other teams,” said sources.
PCB has also barred franchisees from staying at the same floor where the players are staying The players are also barred from meeting anyone, not even relatives, in their rooms and have to come down to the lobby to do the same.
All players have to inform the security officers before going out, other than on match days.
