The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Akhtar may play in final ODI

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Saturday, Oct 13, 2007
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Akhtar may play in final ODI

Lahore: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will be eligible to play in the fifth and final One-day International against South Africa on October 29, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday.

The board’s disciplinary committee on Thursday imposed a 13-match ban and 3.4 million rupees fine on Shoaib for four charges of misconduct. Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB’s chief operating officer, clarified that the ban period had started the day after the incident on August 27 when team manager Talat Ali sent Shoaib home.

“Since his ban period started immediately it covers seven matches of the Twenty20 World Cup and also the two Tests against South Africa,” Naghmi said.

“This means he will have completed his 13-match ban by the fourth one-dayer and will be eligible for selection for the final game in Karachi,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf has said that Akhtar should go through some form of psychiatric counselling.

“It’s compulsory for Akhtar to go through some form of counselling as he has hurt the Pakistan image,” Ashraf said.

“The punishment Akhtar got was the maximum that he could get. We have a very clear and consistent policy that no compromise will be made on indiscipline,” he added.

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 after his return from South Africa. — Agencies

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