Three Pakistanis fined, suspended over hotel liaison

Three Pakistani players have been fined and suspended for one tournament after women were found in their hotel room during a recent training camp, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board conducted an inquiry into the misconduct and PCB Chairman General Tauqir Zia decided to fine them 50,000 rupeesdollars) each and suspended them for the ICC knock out tournament next month," PCB Director Yawar Saeed said. Popular allrounder Shahid Afridi, batsman Hasan Raza and wicketkeeper Atiquz Zaman reportedly invited the women to their room on August 15, a day before the team left for Singapore to play a tournament there.

"The attention of the PCB was drawn to the alleged misconduct of some of the players and the chairman ordered an inquiry," he said. Local press reports said the women were followed by men who demanded money to hush up the matter and the players paid 2,000 dollars.

"The inquiry team manager Brigadier Mohammad Nasir found the incident was grossly exaggerated as there was no evidence except that some female fans barged into the player's room," Saeed said. Afridi is the record holder of the fastest century in one-day cricket while Raza holds the record for the youngest man to play Test cricket.

Zaman is relatively inexperienced, having played his first Test in Peshawar last year.

"The inquiry officer recommended the allegations be dismissed. However, the chairman considers that the players should have acted with more responsibility and prevented any unauthorized entry to their rooms," Saeed said. He said the PCB's tough response was meant as a signal to the players amid a major crackdown on ill-discipline following recent match-fixing inquiries here and in South Africa.

"Discipline is the key whether it's in the office or anywhere. It's a must in a cricket team," Saeed said.

"It's not that we have a weak system -- it's human to err but one should learn."

No player was immediately available for comment.

As part of its drive to improve the image of Pakistani cricket, the PCB has decided to plant a secret informer among home and away squads to spy on the players and report on any untoward incidents.

Mail Cricket Editor