| Wednesday, April 02, 2008 |
 |
 |
| Contact us:- Editor The Bottom Line |
|
Pakistan bans Akhtar for five years RAWALPINDI
(AFP) -
Pakistan banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for five years on Tuesday
for repeated disciplinary breaches, effectively ending the maverick
paceman’s controversial career.
The 32-year-old appeared before a disciplinary committee charged
with publicly criticising the country’s cricket board. He was
already on two years’ probation for hitting a teammate with
a bat last year.
Akhtar, the world’s fastest bowler, immediately pledged to
fight the ban in court to save an 11-year career that has been plagued
by injuries, discipline problems and a doping scandal in 2007.
“The committee has recommended a five year-ban on Shoaib Akhtar.
He will be ineligible to play in Pakistan or to play for Pakistan
anywhere else in the world,” Pakistan Cricket Board 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.
However, the PCB chief said Akhtar could still compete 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.
Akhtar, who has taken 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 219 in 138 one-day
matches, said he had given his “heart, soul and body”
to the team and vowed to challenge the ruling.
He had been on probation since October last year, when he was fined
52,000 dollars and banned for 13 matches for hitting paceman Mohammad
Asif with a bat, days before the start of the Twenty20 World Championships
in South Africa.
Akhtar was dropped from Pakistan’s list of 15 contracted players
in January after the paceman had another disappointing year, and
was instead offered a special retainer deal, which he refused to
sign.
Akhtar said the new deal was “very hurtful” and he made
his public comments in response, but had then apologised to the
PCB, the committee and the team.
“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.
He also rejected Ashraf’s claims that he was a negative influence
on the team.
“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.
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 offense on discipline,
he has been severely reprimanded and barred from issuing any press
statements,” Ashraf said.
Akhtar last played for Pakistan in the third and final Test against
India at Bangalore in December last year. He broke down with back
trouble and was blamed for Pakistan’s 1-0 defeat in the series.
He was not selected for Pakistan’s five-match series against
Zimbabwe in February and was omitted from next month’s first
two limited overs international against Bangladesh. In 2006, Akhtar and Asif tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone and were expelled from Pakistan’s Champions Trophy team for India. Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year, but the bans were lifted on appeal. His
Offences DECEMBER
1999: Banned for illegal bowling action.
|
 |
