Zeeshan Malik eligible to play cricket again after serving three-month ban

Northern’s top-order batter Zeeshan Malik was suspended on 14 October 2021 for breaching the PCB Anti-Corruption Code. On 18 November 2021, he was issued a notice of charge under Article 2.4.4* of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code, while on 18 November 2021 he pleaded guilty as charged.

On 31 December 2021, both the PCB and Zeeshan Malik, in accordance with PCB Anti-Corruption Code Article 5.1.12**, reached consensus on the agreed sanction of the imposition of a three months’ period of ineligibility from the date of his suspension (14 October 2021).

As such, Zeeshan Malik’s three-month suspension ended on Wednesday (13 January 2022).

However, and as part of his return to competitive cricket, Zeeshan Malik is undergoing a rehabilitation programme that has been designed by the PCB Security and Anti-Corruption Department.

In this regard, Zeeshan Malik has issued the following statement:

“I offer my sincere apologies to all my colleagues, fellow cricketers and supporters for my inability to follow the PCB Anti-Corruption Code. Although I did not benefit from the approach, it was my complete failure to report the approach despite attending a number of anti-corruption lectures, and was rightly suspended from competitive cricket.

“While I ask for forgiveness, I strongly urge and request all cricketers to be aware of the corruptors, be alert of the ways they approach and immediately report such instances to the PCB Security and Anti-Corruption Department to ensure their reputation remains intact and they are not sidelined from this great game.

“In the past three months, I have missed cricket badly, which is very close to my heart. But in these three months, I have also learnt to be more vigilant and cautious as there are people out there who will sacrifice innocent people for their own gains and benefits.

“I hope all my friends, colleagues and coaches will forgive me, and accept me back into cricket wholeheartedly.”

Zeeshan Malik will now attend and deliver lectures on the PCB Anti-Corruption Code and will also participate in integration sessions with the local sides before being allowed to resume competitive cricket.