Karachi, Sept 07: A PCB spokesperson Ahsan Malik has told media that Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been given a five-match ban by the team manager Talat Ali following his brawl with teammate Mohammad Asif in South Africa.
The ban will include all matches Pakistan will play in the Twenty20 tournament. There is a possibility of the ban spilling over to the home series against Pakistan, depending on Pakistan`s progress. A team can play a maximum of seven matches, including the final.
"A decision has been taken to call back Shoaib on the basis of an initial inquiry by the touring team management in South Africa," Shafqat Nagmi, Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, told reporters.
The incident took place on Thursday in the team`s net. A team source said a heated argument between the two led to Shoaib striking Asif on the thigh with a bat.
Ehsan malik, Media Manager of the Pakistan team, said Asif had escaped any serious injury and his X-ray reports showed no internal damage.
Malik said the team management held several meetings since last night to investigate the incident and had also been in touch with Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Nasim Ashraf, who had taken a serious note of the spat.
Sources in the team, have blamed Akhtar for the incident, saying despite being a senior player he acted violently and shook up the team management and other players with his behaviour.
"It was worse than the fight that took place between Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan during the 2003 world cup in Zimbabwe," a player, who was present on both occasions, said on the condition of anonymity. The player said the team management was embarrassed because of the presence of the new coach, Geoff Lawson, who has just taken charge of the side and is on his first assignment.
Akhtar, who is no stranger to controversies, had been sent home twice from Australia and South Africa for his acts of indiscipline. He had also faced a probe after the 2004 home series against India on whether he had faked an injury in the final test in Rawalpindi.
Earlier this year, he was involved in an open spat with former coach Bob Woolmer in the dressing room at Port Elizabeth and was told to return home although the official reason given was that he had strained his thigh. He was also recalled from Australia after Inzamam and Woolmer complained of his behaviour in early 2005.
Last year, Akhtar and Asif had tested positive for banned substance Nandrolone in a out of competition test conducted by PCB and both were banned for long periods by a drugs inquiry tribunal. They appealed to an appellate committee, which later exonerated them of doping offences.
Bureau Report
