Committe wants heavy fines, bans for erring Pak players

Karachi, Tue, Mar 09 2010 (PTI) - Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers could be fined millions, while former captain Shoaib Malik faces a one-year ban if the Pakistan Cricket Board implements the recommendations of an inquiry committee probing the team's disastrous tour of Australia.

Pakistan were whitewashed in all three formats of the game in Australia and critics attributed the team's poor show to infighting and indiscipline among players.

According to reliable sources, the committee has recommended fines of Rs three million each on Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal for breaching the code of conduct.

At the same time, it has recommended a ban of 12 months on Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved.

"These are the recommendations of the inquiry committee that was headed by chief operating officer, Wasim Bari but bear in mind that PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt has the final say on whether to implement the recommendations, ask the inquiry committee members to revise the bans and fine or dismiss them altogether," one source said.

According to sources, the report was discussed by the Butt with the national selection committee yesterday as part of the selection process for the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

"Apparently at the meeting, there were mixed reactions to the strong recommendations keeping in mind the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies where Pakistan defends its title," the source stated.

The source said if the board does implement the recommendations, it could mean no World Cup for Malik and Rana and keep them out of cricket until the 2011 World Cup.

"There is every possibility the Chairman might ask the inquiry committee to reconsider the period of the ban, but at the meeting some members were adamant that the recommendations must be imposed to put Pakistan cricket back on the right track and root out groupings and indiscipline within the team," he said.

The source said the inquiry committee had serious reservations over the attitude and commitment shown by Malik and Rana in Australia where they are accused of not cooperating with the management.

He said the captain, coach and manager on the Australian tour had reported Malik and Rana for misbehaviour and not cooperating with the management a fact confirmed by some other players who appeared before the probe committee.

"The committee has recommended fines on Afridi for his ball tampering act and on Kamran and Umar Akmal for giving press statements against the will of the management," the source disclosed.