pak players BANNED FOR LIFE

[andy24]

I was just wondering what peoples thoughts were on this. I believe there should of been punishment to some of the players but a life ban seems a bit harsh

[jamthala]

No one get life ban.

[andy24]

No one get life ban.

sorry this is what i read in a local paper

[maehara]

Seems a bit harsh to be - if there was indiscipline on the tour, then yes, it needs to be dealt with - but this case seems more like the PCB throwing their toys out the pram over losing the tour than any real disciplining. With PCB refusing to clarif the charges & process leading to the bans, I'm even more suspect about them.

The PCB has struck against its players with a venom unseen in recent memory, carrying out the deepest cull of a senior cricket team in many years and banning and fining seven of its top players after the side's disastrous, winless tour of Australia. It has banned Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, from playing for Pakistan in any format for an indefinite period, while handing out one-year bans to Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers were fined Rs2-3 million [$24,000-35,000] for various misdemeanours and put on six-month probations.

Action had been expected once details of the inquiry committee's report recommendations were leaked in the press on Monday and Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, had followed it up by saying "more than significant action" would be taken against players. While the punishments for Malik, Rana, Afridi and the Akmal brothers were expected, the action against Yousuf and Younis has caught most people off-guard.

"Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, keeping in view their infighting which resulted in bringing down the whole team, their attitude has a trickledown effect which is a bad influence for the whole team should not be part of national team in any format," the board said in its statement issued on Wednesday.

The PCB has stopped short of calling the punishment a life ban. "They will not be part of any Pakistan team in any format from here on," Taffazul Rizvi, the board's legal advisor told Cricinfo. "A life ban means they cannot play domestic cricket or any other similar cricket, but we are not stopping them from that. They can play domestic cricket or county cricket here and abroad."

Typically there was confusion and the board later appeared to climb down by clarifying that this was not the end of their careers. In a statement released at least six hours after the original release, the board said, "that the recommendation of the Committee is not a life ban on these cricketers. There is no specified term in the recommendation for these two players. As and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team."

Rizvi refused to elaborate on the nature of the pair's cases, but it is believed that the board had generally had enough with the two. Younis twice stepped down from the captaincy last year with player unrest against his leadership the underlying cause both times. Yousuf's sins are equally unclear, other than that he led a winless tour to Australia and engaged thereafter in a public battle with Malik.

The cases of indiscipline that have led to one-year bans on Malik and Rana, similarly, have not been expanded upon. "Rana Naved ul Hasan and Shoaib Malik be fined Rupees Two million. They should not be part of national team in any format for a period of one year."

Malik's name has figured persistently at the centre of speculation over the last year in inciting player unrest within the team, though nothing substantial has appeared in public to back that up. "We cannot discuss the specifics of the incident as we are under oath," Rizvi said. "But obviously we have taken action after much consideration and based on solid information."

In contrast, the cases of Akmal brothers and Shahid Afridi are straightforward. The brothers were fined for their behavior in the aftermath of the Sydney Test; Kamran was dropped by the board but insisted publicly he would be selected in the run-up to the third Test. Younger brother Umar was alleged to have feigned an injury to not play the Test in protest, though he did eventually play. Kamran has been fined Rs 3 million, Umar Rs 2 million and the pair are on probation.

Afridi was punished for the ball-biting incident in the Perth ODI, where he was captain. He has already been punished by the ICC, who immediately gave him a two-match ban. "For the shameful act of Shahid Khan Afridi, which has brought the game and country into disrepute, he be fined Rupees 3 million," the board said. "A warning be issued to him by the Chairman PCB and he be put on probation for 06 months, during which his conduct be strictly monitored."

The bans were handed down by an inquiry committee which comprised former players Wasim Bari, Zakir Khan and Yawar Saeed, besides Wazir Ali Khoja, a member of the PCB governing council, and Rizvi. The committee held hearings on February 12th, 13th and the 27th, and looked into reports from former coach Intikhab Alam, manager Abdul Raqeeb and newly appointed coach Waqar Younis, who was the bowling consultant during the Australia tour. Besides the players who were punished, the committee questioned Intikhab, Raqeeb, opener Salman Butt, assistant coach Aaqib Javed, the physio Faisal Hayat and the PCB's cricket analyst Mohammad Talha.

Attention will turn now to how the players will respond. Legal action or appeals will be a consideration though Rizvi insisted the board was on solid ground. "We are on good ground with this," he said. "The PCB has done it thinking it is the right thing to do. It sets an example for the future."

As a whole, the action is almost unparalleled in even Pakistan's troubled history. The 2000 Justice Qayyum report had similar repercussions but that was about the graver concerns of corruption. This cull has been carried out, ostensibly, in a bid to curb indiscipline and player power.

[jamthala]

When pak start playing cricket,than internal fight between players also start.which will never going to end.

[eugene]

Nothing is ever certain with Pakistan cricket. These life bans will be lifted after six months probably. Look at how many times Shoaib Akhtar has been banned and yet returned to the team.

Pakistan would be best served by kicking these trouble makers out and choosing players who actually want to play cricket and not politics. Pakistan has a very talented team yet they always under perform and engage in bad behaviour - Mohammad Asif being a good example.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Yousuf uis hated by his family,
he deserted them when he went over to the peaceful religion...

He was the posterboy for a struggling minority perecuted in Pakistan.

Then he converted, changed his name even...


My point is, how can a man who is hated by his own family be considered a leader of the national team?

[jamthala]

yousuf always play for himself posting.php?mode=reply&f=6&t=1396#

[sloandog]

I read the article on cricinfo a while back and i had to rub my eyes, as if Pakistan could afford to ban players such as Yousuf, Younis, Afridi, the Akmal brothers, Rana Naveed and Shoib Malik. It's typical of Ijaz Butt to just blame certain individuals. Pakistan cricket isn't going anywhere until proceedings off the field are corrected. And this is certainly not the way to do so !! I miss the days of Shoib Akhtar, Inzimam, Akram, Waquar, Saqlain, Anwar and even Mohammed Sami. It's just really sad as to how much cricket in Pakistan had desended so much
I wish them all the best, they're going to need it !

[Flower power]

Thats another board in trouble . What is with boards and players . First was Zimbabwe when 15 players walked out in 2004 , recently West Indies now Pakistan . I think now the responsibilty of the people who vote the boads into power to have a second look .
All these three teams should have been amomg the best had it not been for some boards that are irresponsible'