PCB mulls revoking penalties imposed on players

The Pakistan Cricket Board might pardon Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi and six other players banned and fined for indiscipline if they apologise for their actions, chief selector Mohsin Khan said on Wednesday.

Mohsin defended the punishments handed out to seven players, saying the inquiry committee had recommended action only after properly investigating what happened in the tour of Australia during the team was whitewashed in all three formats of the game.

"If the players submit written apologies to the board then I think the board might reverse their bans and fines and pardon them," Mohsin said.

The PCB imposed indefinite bans on former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan and one-year bans and fines of Rs 2 million each on Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved.

The board also fined all-rounder Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal Rs 3 million each and put them on six months probation. The PCB slapped a Rs 2 million fine on batsman Umar Akmal.

Yousuf announced his retirement from international cricket insisting he had taken the decision because the board had told him that he was a disruptive influence on the team.

Mohsin said Yousuf's decision was a personal one but the senior batsman could continue to play for another two to three years.

"I have said this before he should reconsider his decision and not be disheartened by the ban. He has the right to appeal," he added.

Shahid Afridi, who will lead Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup next month, has lodged an appeal with the board to remove the fine as he claims he has already been punished for ball tampering in Australia.

Afridi, who met PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt on Tuesday, is trying to get the ban overturned and sources in the board said that there was strong likelihood that the board might pardon him.

However, when contacted Butt said no final decision has been taken on removing the fine on Afridi and the matter was still pending.