Latest tiff with board could earn Shoaib life ban
Shoaib Akhtar's latest tiff with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could potentially earn him a life ban from cricket
Cricinfo staff
13-Feb-2008
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Shoaib Akhtar's latest tiff with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could
potentially earn him a life ban from cricket, a board official has warned.
The Pakistan board has sought an explanation from Shoaib - as well as from
Danish Kaneria - for statements attributed to them in the media which
the board believes to be critical of its policies.
Shoaib was overlooked for a central contract last month and instead
offered a retainership. He later refused the offer, insisting he doesn't
need money to play for Pakistan, and questioned the board's policy in
issuing central contracts. In particular, he highlighted the case of a
player who had been retained in the top category of contracts despite
having barely played any cricket in the six-month period on which
contracts were based.
But Shoaib is currently on a two-year probation period, as part of the
punishment he received for his infamous altercation with Mohammad Asif
at the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa last August. He incurred a
record monetary fine for that breach, as well as a 13-match ban and was
publicly told by the board that any further indiscretions would result
in a life ban.
"We are waiting to hear explanations for their statements," said the
official. "They have till February 18. Shoaib is on a two-year notice
period and any further violation could lead to a life ban.
"The board was clear on this. He was put on probation after the Asif
incident for two years, during which any act of indiscipline or breach
of code of conduct could result in an automatic life ban."