PCB ban Shoaib after 'damaging' remarks

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The paceman, nicknamed the 'Rawalpindi Express' has vowed to appeal against the ban, which prohibits him from playing cricket in his homeland for five years following repeated violations of the players' code of conduct.

"The board has lost confidence in Shoaib Akhtar," Ashraf said after the punishment was meted out. We therefore felt his presence on the field was damaging to the team and the image of Pakistan cricket."

The latest blot on Shoaib's copybook came when he criticised the PCB after missing out on one of the top contracts to play for the national team.

Shoaib's penalty was much more severe than expected, however, and he does not intend to go down without a fight.

"I am deeply disappointed and hurt," he said after appearing in front of the PCB disciplinary committee with fellow bowler Danish Kaneria. "I will go to court and fight against the ban."

Shoaib has also confirmed he is prepared to go to the high court if the Pakistan Cricket Board reject his appeal.

The board took a tough stance on Tuesday after finally losing patience with the player, who was on a two-year probation for attacking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before last year's World Twenty20.

Ashraf added: "It is about enforcing strict discipline in the team. No player is bigger than the game.

"Shoaib was already serving a two-year suspension and thus any indiscipline during this period would automatically result in a ban. And it was a unanimous decision on the part of the disciplinary committee to enforce the ban."