The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has today placed a five year ban on pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar due to what it describes as “repeated disciplinary violations.”
Akhtar is unable to play for Pakistan, or anywhere in Pakistan, whilst the ban is in force. Interestingly it does not prevent him from joining the IPL.
The 32 year old fast bowler was recently overlooked when central contracts were being re-negotiated. His outspoken comments after this were what finally led the PCB to take action. Akhtar was on a 2 year probation after attacking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before last year’s world Twenty20 tournament.
Akhtar plans to appeal against the decision. Effectively his international career, which has been blighted by controversy and injury, is finished.
On his day the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ could be a fantastic bowler, but I can’t really remember too many such days - maybe it’s time he, and Pakistan, moved on.
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