Pakistan bans Yousuf and Younus for life

Gilps · March 10, 2010

The Pakistan Cricket Board has issued indefinite bans to former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan.

Its inquiry into events during the tour of Australia found the pair had been involved in "infighting which resulted in bringing down the whole team".

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Malik each face one-year bans and big fines.

Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal also face heavy fines while their conduct will be strictly monitored during a six-month probationary period.

On Wednesday, the PCB implemented the recommendations of an inquiry committee formed to evaluate Pakistan's dismal performance against Australia during the winter.

Pakistan must now try to defend their ICC World Twenty20 crown in the Caribbean next month with severely depleted resources, before facing what could be a chastening tour of England.

But the PCB was unrepentant, saying: "This will go a long way to arrest the continuing decline of Pakistan cricket and improve the state of cricket in Pakistan."

The inquiry detailed its sanctions against the seven players in an e-mail issued from its Lahore offices.

It said: "After careful and detailed analysis of the events, the personal accounts of the team management and players and examination of record, videos and statistics, the unanimous recommendations of the committee were as follows:

• Mohammad Yousuf and Younus 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.

• For the shameful act of Shahid Afridi, which has brought the game and country into disrepute, he be fined Rs3m (£23,800). A warning be issued to him by the chairman of the PCB and he be put on probation for six months, during which his conduct be strictly monitored.

• Kamran Akmal be fined Rs3m (£23,800). A warning be issued to him by the chairman of the PCB and he be put on probation for six months, during which his conduct be strictly monitored.

• Umar Akmal be fined Rs2m (£15,000). A warning be issued to him by the chairman of the PCB and he be put on probation for six months, during which his conduct be strictly monitored.

• Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Malik be fined Rs2m (£15,000). They should not be part of a national team in any format for a period of one year.

sutty · March 10, 2010

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