PCB bans Shoaib Akhtar for 5 years

[minisoji]

NEW DELHI: Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has been banned for five years by Pakistan Cricket Board at a disciplinary committee hearing on Tuesday.

Akhtar has been charged for violating players' code of conduct. He can however play for the BCCI's cash-rich Indian Premier League which is scheduled to begin from April 18.

The charges were laid after the controversial paceman criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for double standards in awarding the central contracts in January this year.

Earlier, Akhtar confirmed he would appear before the committee to present his case.

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

He was put on probation for two years following the incident. Akhtar was dropped from Pakistan's list of 15 contracted players in January after the paceman had another disappointing year, plagued by injures and discipline problems.

Instead, Akhtar was offered a special retainer deal, which he refused to sign.

Akhtar played the last of his 46 Tests against India at Bangalore in December 2007, breaking down due to back trouble.

He was blamed for Pakistan's 1-0 series loss to the archrivals and was not played in the team's One-day series against Zimbabwe in February this year.

Akhtar was also left out of a 16-man squad announced for next month's first two One-Day Internationals against Bangladesh.

[bolfhyipdoctor]

I think the decisin is too harsh for him but I don't think that this ban will be for 5 years.The ban will definitely be reduced, but we don't have to worry we will see him in the IPL in full form.Sourav, Sharukh and John Buchanan will be very happy with this decision.