Afridi banned for 1 Test & 2 ODIs, Akhtar fined 20 per cent of match fee for Code of Conduct breaches

Pakistan's Shahid Afridi has been banned for one Test match and two ODIs for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his country's second Test match against England.

In a separate hearing, Afridi's team-mate Shoaib Akhtar was fined 20 per cent of his match fee, also for a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

Afridi pleaded guilty to damaging the pitch during the second day's play in Faisalabad and attended a hearing conducted by ICC Match Referee Roshan Mahanama after play concluded on Monday.

Afridi was charged with a Level 3 offence under C 1 of the ICC Code which reads: "Players and/or Team Officials shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket..."

All Level 3 breaches carry a penalty of a ban of between two and four Test matches or between four and eight ODIs. Afridi's ban of one Test and two ODIs equates to a two-Test ban as outlined in Note 5.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct.

After issuing his judgment, Mr Mahanama said: "This ban should serve as a message to players that this type of behaviour is not allowed.

"Mr Afridi apologized for his conduct and said he was very disappointed with himself for acting in that way. However, a player of his calibre and experience is a role model and he should set a good example as a lot of people not only in Pakistan but around the world look up to him. He has let them down with his actions today."

The charge was brought by the four umpires in the match, on-field officials Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel, third umpire Nadeem Ghauri and fourth umpire Iftikhar Malik. Video evidence was used during the hearing.

Mr Mahanama reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by the four umpires, Shahid Afridi, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer.

The player does have a right of appeal. An appeal must be lodged in writing with the ICC Legal Counsel setting out the grounds of appeal within 24 hours of the ICC Match Referee's decision.

Shoaib Akhtar was found guilty of a breach of the ICC's logo policy in a separate hearing conducted after play on Monday.

Mr Akhtar pleaded guilty to a breach of the Level 1 offence, 1.1 of the ICC Code, which relates to manufacturer's logos on equipment.

Both teams had been reminded of the regulations relating to manufacturer's logos before the Test series began, during the first Test match in Multan and prior to the start of the second Test but despite that fact the logos around the wrist bands of each of Mr Akhtar's gloves were found to be in breach of those regulations when he batted on Monday.

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee.

The charge was brought by the two on-field umpires, Simon Taufel and Darrell Hair.

Mr Mahanama reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by Shoaib Akhtar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Bob Woolmer and the four umpires officiating in the match.

For Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct the ICC Match Referee's decision is final and binding.

The ICC's Code of Conduct regulations can be found here