PCB 'publicly disowns' Sussex player Naveed Arif following suspension for fixing

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly publicly disowned Sussex player Naveed Arif, who has been suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on charges of match-fixing.

Arif, who was charged with six offences relating to a 40-over game between Sussex and Kent in August 2011, had featured in two matches in Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 tournament in late 2012 and also toured Australia with Pakistan 'A' team in 2009 before moving to England.

According to The Dawn, Najam Sethi, who was restored as the PCB head by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, said they had 'no relations' with Arif, who was charged by the ECB alongside former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent, who has already admitted fixing in several countries.

Stressing Arif's estrangement, Sethi also said that the pacer, who qualified as a non-overseas player for Sussex through his wife's Danish passport, has been out of Pakistan for the last three years and he has no relation with Pakistan cricket, adding that Pakistan has taken tough measures to crack down on cricket fixers.

A Pakistani international player who featured alongside Arif at the domestic T20 in 2012, said he could was amazed to hear he was involved in fixing as Arif was a very shy and unassuming guy and had always played the game for passion.