/ 7 April 2010

Akmal brothers appeal Pakistan cricket sanctions

Pakistan’s cricketing brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal have appealed against fines and probation punishments meted out by the country’s cricket board, an official confirmed on Wednesday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fined elder brother Kamran $35 872 and put him on six months probation on charges of violating players’ conduct during Pakistan’s tour of Australia.

Younger brother Umar was fined on the same charges and also put on six-months probation.

“The Akmal brothers have filed appeals against the penalties in person without support of any counsel, so now an independent arbitrator will deal with the matter,” said PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi.

The penalties were imposed after a PCB committee examined the team’s dismal performances and off-field problems in Australia where Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 international.

Former captains Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were banned indefinitely over infighting during the preceding tour of the United Arab Emirates in November.

Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were banned for one year and fined for various discipline breaches.

Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi was also fined and put on six-months probation for ball-tampering in a one-day match in Australia which “brought the game and country into disrepute.”

“Afridi did not appeal but wrote a letter to PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to review the fine. Similarly Naved sent a legal notice to the PCB asking clarification on his punishment,” said Rizvi.

“Younus also wanted a clarification on his punishment, so we have directed these players to appeal,” said Rizvi.

The PCB last month appointed two retired Supreme Court judges — Muneer Sheikh and Jamshed Ali Shah — and a former high court judge, Irfan Qadir, to deal with the appeals.

Rizvi said the deadline to appeal is April 16. — Sapa-AFP