Media interpretations of recommendations incorrect, say board
THE Pakistan Cricket Board has released a statement saying they have not imposed life bans on senior players Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan.
It comes a day after the PCB released findings of a committee inquiry into Pakistan’s dismal tour of Australia where they failed to register a single victory.
In a widespread crackdown on player discipline the report had recommended both Yousuf and Younus “should not be part of national team in any format” as a result of their “infighting which resulted in brining down the whole team.”
The PCB said media reports that the two had received life bans were wrong.
“PCB wishes to clarify that the recommendation of the Committee is not a life ban on these cricketers,” the statement said.
“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.”
A number of other players were also cited in the report and punished.
Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s hero in the Twenty20 World Cup in England last year, was accused of bringing “the game and country into disrepute” after he was caught on camera ball tampering during the tour and was fined and placed on probation for six months.
Brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal were also cited for breach of discipline and fined, while bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and former captain Shoaib Malik were fined and banned for a year.
The punishments were seen as a crushing blow to the Pakistan cricket team as they plan the defence of their World Twenty20 crown in the Caribbean next month.
The team will also travel to England this summer.
But the PCB were unapologetic about the severity of the punishments handed down saying they would “go a long way to arrest the continuing decline of Pakistan cricket and improve the state of cricket in Pakistan.”
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