Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has pleaded guilty to the charge of misconduct and the Pakistan Cricket Board has asked the all-rounder to appear before the committee on June 8. The PCB on Thursday formed a disciplinary committee headed by Director Domestic Cricket Sultan Rana as its Chairman while G.M Domestic Cricket Shafiq Ahmed and Manager International Cricket Usman Wahla as its members.
The PCB after reviewing the response from Shahid Afridi to its show cause notice, responded to the all-rounder detailing the disciplinary process. An official of the board said: “The committee has been formed in accordance with the PCB’s Conduct of Disciplinary Proceedings Policy 2007.”
“The board received Afridi’s reply to the charge following his recent criticism of the board leadership. “Afridi is ready to face any disciplinary action against him.” He said that Taffazul Rizvi, Legal Advisor PCB will assist the Committee in the proceedings. “The Committee has asked Shahid Afridi to appear before it on June 8 at 3.00 p.m at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore,” he added. The PCB suspended Afridi’s central contract and revoked all of his no objection certificates, which allow him to play overseas. Apparently, Afridi has pleaded guilty within a day of the PCB’s move probably to get his NOC restored so he can play for Hampshire in the English Twenty20 championship. He said: “The proceedings shall be conducted in camera and no outsider will be allowed to attend.” “The aggrieved party against an order of Disciplinary Committee may file an appeal. The forum available is the Appellate Tribunal. Under PCB’s Constitution, PCB maintains an independent panel of arbitrators who are all eminent retired judges of High Courts. Should an appeal be preferred, an Appellate Tribunal will be formed from amongst the independent panel of arbitrators. Please note that the decision of the Appellate Tribunal shall be final and binding on both parties,” a PCB press release said.
Commenting on the letter sent to Shahid Afridi, PCB’s COO Subhan Ahmad said: “It is painful for us to get involved in a dispute with a cricketer who has been the national team’s captain until the West Indies series 2011. There are numerous contributions by Shahid Afridi to Pakistan cricket. But I think people need to understand that this is purely a disciplinary issue. As the body managing cricket in the country we are duty bound to maintain discipline at all levels.
