The Hindu : Sport : Akhtar banned for five years

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Akhtar banned for five years

Danish Kaneria barred from issuing press statements

— Photo: AP

PREMATURE END? Shoaib Akhtar’s international career may have seen its last days after a disciplinary committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board banned him for five years.

Islamabad: Pakistan banned maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar from playing cricket for five years on Tuesday for violating the players’ code of conduct, the country’s cricket chief said.

The 32-year-old Akhtar appeared before a disciplinary committee earlier on Tuesday charged with publicly criticising the country’s board. He was already on two years’ probation for hitting a teammate with a bat.

The ban effectively ends the controversial eleven-year career of the world’s fastest bowler, which has been plagued by injuries, discipline problems and a doping scandal in 2007.

“The committee has recommended a five year-ban on Shoaib Akthar. He will be ineligible to play in Pakistan or to play for Pakistan anywhere else in the world,” PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters.

“The board has lost confidence in Shoaib Akhtar and therefore felt that his presence in the field was damaging to the Pakistan team, for Pakistan players and for the image of Pakistan cricket,” Ashraf added.

Eligible for IPL

However the PCB chief said that Akhtar would still be able to play for other teams around the world, clearing the fast bowler to play for the lucrative Indian Premier League next month.

Ashraf added that it was a “sad day for me and for Shoaib Akhtar. He is such a talented player.”

The PCB chairman said Akhtar had the right to appeal the decision.

Because he was already on probation, Akhtar faced a theoretical life ban for slamming the PCB for dual standards on awarding central contracts in January this year.

In October last year, Akhtar was fined 3.4 million rupees (52,000 dollars) and banned for 13 matches for hitting fellow paceman Mohammad Asif with a bat, just days before the start of the Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa.

Speaking after the ban was imposed, Shoaib Akhtar said he would approach the courts to get it overturned. “I am deeply disappointed and hurt. I will go to court and fight against the ban,” Akhtar told AFP minutes after a disciplinary committee imposed the ban. The 32-year-old Akhtar appeared before the committee earlier on Tuesday, charged with publicly criticising the country’s board in January for reducing his contract status. He was already on two-years probation for hitting a teammate with a bat.

“I was demoted from central contract ‘A’ category, which was very hurtful and as a reaction I said something. I have apologised to the PCB, before the disciplinary committee and before everyone,” Akhtar said.

“So I thought that they would take a lenient action, but this harsh decision has effectively ended my career. I still want to play for my country,” he said.

“Ask the captain (Shoaib Malik), ask coach Geoff Lawson and they would vouch for me. I had played with high fever on the India tour (last year), which proved my commitment for the team,” Akhtar said.

“I bowl fast so I am prone to injuries, but I have given my heart, soul and body to this team. I know some vested interest did not want me to be the part of the team, but I will be back.”

Spinner Danish Kaneria, who also faced a charge of criticising the PCB, was severely reprimanded, Ashraf said.

Kaneria had criticised his demotion from category “B” to “C” in the central contract in an online column. He later blamed a newspaper for publishing his column out of context.

“Since this was Kaneria’s first offence on discipline, he has been severely reprimanded and barred from issuing any press statements,” Ashraf said. — Agencies

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