Shoaib banned for 13 ODIs, fined by PCB

Pakistan's temperamental fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was on Thursday banned for 13 ODIs and fined Rs 34 lakh by the Pakistan Cricket Board disciplinary committee for hitting fellow paceman Mohammad Asif with bat.

The PCB disciplinary committee announced that Shoaib had breached the code of conduct on five counts and would serve the ban starting from the Twenty20 World Cup which means he has already served seven matches as he was sent home from
South Africa before the start of the tournament.

Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi, who heads the committee, said Shoaib had the right to file appeal with an appellate committee but would complete his ban period before the Indian tour.

"He will miss the five one-dayers against South Africa but is available for selection for the Indian tour," Naghmi said.

Shoaib was sent back home from South Africa last month for hitting Asif with a bat.

The Board was also unhappy with Shoaib for addressing a press conference with out its permission on return from South Africa and accusing Shahid Afridi for the brawl.

Shoaib was also guilty of going to play a charity match in England without PCB's nod.

Shoaib would be put on a two-year probation and the PCB said any further act of indiscipline will result in a life ban.

The bowler, who has often found himself at the centre of controversies, said he would not file an appeal against the ban and wanted to be available for the Indian tour.