PCB bans, fines three players

Karachi, Sept 4: Three Pakistan cricketers were acquitted of one charge of misconduct but were found guilty of the other for which they were fined Rs50,000 and barred from selection for the tour of Kenya.

Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told reporters at the National Stadium that Shahid Afridi, Hasan Raza and Atiq-uz-Zaman have not been found guilty of misconduct because of the lack of evidence.

But the general said the three players have been fined and banned from selection for next month's ICC knock out tournament in Kenya after being found guilty of allowing their female fans to enter their hotel rooms.

"There is no evidence to suggest that they invited girls in their rooms. But there is proof that the girls followed the cricketers and barged into their rooms. The players have been fined for breach of code of conduct as it is known to every member of the team that guests are to be entertained in the manager's room," the general said.

The general said inquiry officer Brig (retd) Mohammad Nasir had conducted an investigation in the affair and had recommended no action because of the lack of evidence. "But I fined them because they disobeyed the orders."

The general said in the inquiry, one of the three players admitted that girls entered their rooms while two denied the story. He refused to reveal the name of the player who admitted that girls `forcefully' entered the rooms of the cricketers on the eve of team's departure for Singapore.

The general revealed that it was the third offence of misconduct by wicketkeeper Atiq in the last four months. He said he was reprimanded and warned in the West Indies when he was seem with a woman in the hotel. "When he was asked, he said he had helped the woman in searching the room of Shahid Afridi.

"But Atiq was fined 30% of his Kenya tour fee for forging Mohsin Kamal (team coach's) signatures. Atiq admitted but said he has done it for fun," the general explained.