Five-year ban for Shoaib

Shoaib Akhtar arrives at the PCB hearing © Getty Images

Paceman Shoaib Akhtar has been banned from playing for and in Pakistan for five years following his criticism of the national governing body.

Shoaib and fellow bowler Danish Kaneria appeared before a disciplinary hearing in Rawalpindi and were questioned over remarks made after missing out on one of the top contracts to play for the national team.

Despite the ban, 32-year-old Shoaib, who was on a two-year probation for attacking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before last year’s World Twenty20, will be free to play in the Indian Premier League.

The Pakistan Cricket Board finally lost patience with Shoaib, whose career has been plagued with off-field controversies, and issued a ban which effectively ends his international career.

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf said: "The committee recommended a five-year ban. He will not be able to play for Pakistan or in Pakistan.

"It’s a sad day for me and for Shoaib Akhtar because he is such a talented player."

Shoaib vowed to contest the suspension, declaring: "I am deeply disappointed and hurt. I will go to court and fight against the ban."

Nasim Ashraf insisted "no player is bigger than the game"

The board took a tough stance after finally losing patience with the player, who was on a two-year probation for attacking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before last year's World Twenty20.

Ashraf added: "It is about enforcing strict discipline in the team. No player is bigger than the game.

"Shoaib was already serving a two-year suspension and thus any indiscipline during this period would automatically result in a ban.

"And it was a unanimous decision on the part of the disciplinary committee to enforce the ban."

Shoaib was last year fined US$52,000 and banned for 13 international matches following his attack on Asif in South Africa.

He was also embroiled in a drugs scandal after he and Asif tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance nandrolone in October 2006, before being cleared on appeal two months later.

The ‘Rawalpindi Express’, who was also fined 3.4 million rupees - approximately £40,000 - on Tuesday, is no stranger to outbursts against the Pakistani authorities.

In 2007 he was fined for indiscipline at a national camp in Karachi and was not shy in voicing his dissatisfaction at the penalty.

Kaneria, in contrast to Shoaib’s severe punishment, has been reprimanded and warned over his future conduct.