The Hindu : Sport : PCB takes Akhtar to task

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Friday, Oct 12, 2007
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Sport

PCB takes Akhtar to task

13-match ban, $57,000 fine

— Photo: AFP

IN HOT WATER: Shoaib Akhtar addresses the media after the disciplinary action announced by the PCB on Thursday.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday suspended fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for 13 international matches on four indiscipline charges that included hitting teammate Mohammed Asif with a bat in South Africa last month, the board’s chief operating officer and chairman of the disciplinary committee, Shafqat Naghmi, said at a news conference on Thursday.

Akhtar was also fined Rs. 3.4 million ($57,000), after a hearing, he said.

Akhtar has already served nine matches after missing seven World Twenty20 games in South Africa and the two home Tests against South Africa.

He will be available for selection for the last of the five limited-overs games against South Africa later this month.

“I am not going to appeal against the ban, I am hungry to play for Pakistan,” Akhtar told reporters.

“I have suffered enough, it was all in the heat of the moment and I’ll make sure to be extra careful in future,” he added.

Mr. Naghmi said Akhtar is one incident away from the end of his international career.

“If he is found guilty in any indiscipline act, he faces life ban,” he said.

Points deducted

In addition to a fine and suspension, the PCB deducted 9.5 points from Akhtar’s 20 disciplinary points that are in the players’ central contract.

Akhtar was sent home after he hit Asif with a bat at a practice session in Johannesburg during the World Twenty20 event.

The other three charges against Akhtar were: missing a training camp in August and opting to play a charity match in England; giving statements against the PCB in various newspapers; and conducting an unauthorised press briefing on his return from South Africa.

Akhtar in that press conference had said teammate Shahid Afridi made comments after a practice session and the two became embroiled in a tussle.

When Asif tried to break them up, Akhtar said he accidentally struck him with his bat.

Trying to forget

“I have already apologised to Asif, to the whole nation and the PCB, now I just want to move on and concentrate on playing cricket for Pakistan,” Akhtar said.

“I have been going through a nightmare for the last four weeks and whatever happened I just don’t want to even recall it.” — AP

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