I guess we've seen the last of Shoaib Akhtar then

[Aritro]

http://aus.cricinfo.com/pakistan/con...ry/344698.html

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, 32, has been banned for five years by a disciplinary committee of the PCB for violating the players' code of conduct.
"The board has lost confidence in Shoaib Akhtar and therefore felt that his presence in the field was damaging to the Pakistan team, for Pakistan players and for the image of Pakistan cricket," PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf told AFP.
Akhtar had appeared before a disciplinary committee after being charged with publicly criticising the Pakistan board. He was already on two years' probation for hitting Mohammad Asif with a bat before the start of the World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007.




It is April fool's day mind you.



What's the odds that the Cricinfo editor wakes up tomorrow and changes the headline to 'Gotcha!'?

[BANFAN]

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, 32, has been banned for five years by a disciplinary committee of the PCB for violating the players' code of conduct.

It is an equal loss for the whole cric world, as much as it is for Shoaib. I am sure everyone will miss a bowler of shoaib's standard.

Wasn't the decision too harsh? After all it's sports and not a military svc. Neither he has done something which relates to poor morality.



Full Story

[Surfer]

What's the odds that the Cricinfo editor wakes up tomorrow and changes the headline to 'Gotcha!'?

Its all over the news channels now.

I thought this is what he wanted. He provoked the PCB into doing this so that he could mint money in IPL without any problem.

[Tintin]

Welcome to ICL, Shoaiby. The Lahore Badshahs is already frighteningly powerful.

Edit : Oh, wait. He can still play for IPL and make much more than if he plays in the series against BD and SL for example. This must be just what he wanted.

[mahbubH]

I will not be surprised if we see Shoaib playing for Pakistan national team again. Paki board already has taken so many decisions to change him but he remains the old and original Shoaib!! They should keep him out of Pakistan team long time before.

[bharat]

Its good for Pak cricket..the next I would think would be Afridi.

Pak cricket would be a better off without these spent forces.The side looks a shadow of itself..A move in the correct direction

[Miraz]

How many times he got banned? How many times he vowed to comeback? How many times the bans got lifted?

I have lost count. Hope this will be the end of the circus.

Apologies to the Pakistani fans for the harsh words.

[BANFAN]

Originally Posted by Tintin
Welcome to ICL, Shoaiby. The Lahore Badshahs is already frighteningly powerful.

Edit : Oh, wait. He can still play for IPL and make much more than if he plays in the series against BD and SL for example. This must be just what he wanted.

Ha ha ha, well said.

'What you do, If you fall in hot water? - Take a shower'

ICL, that's the only option for him now.

[BANFAN]

IPL will also be closed for him, probably

Edited: The ban extends to cricket for and in Pakistan but will leave him free to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which begins later this month.

Some opportunity for him at last.

[Surfer]

I thought this is what he wanted. He provoked the PCB into doing this so that he could mint money in IPL without any problem.

[Ehsan]

Sad demise of a great fast bowler (may not be a great person but who are we to judge). This 5 year ban will most likely not allow Shoaib to come back again. I thought it was bit too harsh. However, I think Shoaib can still appeal against the ban, and he probably will. Lets see what happens.

[al-Sagar]

i would love not to see him again

[BD-Shardul]

He can go and play county cricket in England

[Yameen]

good riddance to that druggie..they should now ban the other cheat afridi

[thebest]

PCB soap opera continue. I feel sorry for Shoaib. Last of the few characters in cricket. With Warne's retirement and now Shoaib cricket lost all of its crowd puller.
Does PCB is the worst board in handling its player? You can not control genius; you have guide to focus him in his job. Shoaib is genius. PCB failed to perform their duty. India and SL lucky in this sense that they do not have to deal with flawed genius (Tendy and Murali are self regulated). PCB should take some lessons from ACB how to do this. ACB's action to regulate Warne and Ponting should be text book material to handle genius.

[My_Wayz]

Thebest, shoaib is lucky in a way that he didn't play against India and Australia enough.

he averages 35 against both teams.. and his average would have just worsened had he continued playing..

shoaib is just a useless crab.. it's good that pcb got rid of him.. cricinfo page doesn't need an article or page on him.. better put something about associate cricket nation team then putting a usual crap about Actor getting misbehaved and stuff..

this guy was drug adduct.. above all, he never learned to keep quite.. always doing some dramas here and there..

deservs to be slapped quite early..

[auntu]

i think there will b a twist from PCB n the ban will stay only 6 months to 1 year

[Rabz]

A fitting end to a boring saga.
World cricket would be much better off without this drug-cheat, mate-bashing,
big-mouth, ( but sadly a genius).

pakistan cricket would stand to gain the most.
last thing they need is someone who dents the coherence amongst the team members.

[Eshen]

Nashim Ashraf is going out of power in few days. I won't be surprised if the next PCB boss overturns this ban or reduces it.

[Murad]

I think they should reduce it to 1 yr.

5 yr is too too much.

[auntu]

Originally Posted by muradnyc
I think they should reduce it to 1 yr.

5 yr is too too much.

ditto

[BANFAN]

Originally Posted by auntu
i think there will b a twist from PCB n the ban will stay only 6 months to 1 year

I also have similar feelings

[Ehsan]

Akhtar to fight in court

Afp, Islamabad

Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar said Tuesday he will fight a five-year ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for violating the players' code of conduct.

"I am deeply disappointed and hurt. I will go to court and fight against the ban," Akhtar told AFP minutes after a disciplinary committee imposed the ban.

The 32-year-old Akhtar appeared before the committee earlier Tuesday, charged with publicly criticising the country's board in January for reducing his contract status.

He was already on two-years probation for hitting a teammate with a bat.

"I was demoted from central contract 'A' category, which was very hurtful and as a reaction I said something. I have apologised to the PCB, before the disciplinary committee and before everyone," Akhtar said.

"So I thought that they would take a lenient action, but this harsh decision has effectively ended my career. I still want to play for my country," he said.

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters as he announced the decision that Akhtar was given several chances and since he was on two-years probation, the ban was justified.

Akhtar refused to accept Ashraf's claims that he was a negative influence on the team.

"Ask the captain (Shoaib Malik), ask coach Geoff Lawson and they would vouch for me. I had played with high fever on the India tour (last year), which proved my commitment for the team," Akhtar said.

"I bowl fast so I am prone to injuries, but I have given my heart, soul and body to this team. I know some vested interest did not want me to be the part of the team, but I will be back."

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=30341

[Tigers_eye]

There is a timeline in Cricinfo. that is a classic read.

[Murad]

2002 Hit by a brick from the Dhaka crowd in January, forcing him to miss end of tour

Can anyone tell me what was the story??