Cricket Archive

Afridi banned for one Test and two one-dayers by AFP

Scorecard:	Pakistan v England
Player:	Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar
Event:	England in Pakistan 2005/06

Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been banned for one Test and two one-day internationals for altering the pitch condition during the second Test against England, it was announced on Monday.

The 25-year-old was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute by twisting his spikes on the ground during the second day's play, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

Match-referee Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka, who conducted a hearing after the day's play, found Afridi had violated the ICC code of conduct. The hearing was also attended by Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer.

Afridi, who has played 19 Tests and 213 one-dayers, made a rapid-fire 92 off just 85 balls with six sixes and as many fours in Pakistan's first-innings total of 462.

England, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, were 113-3 in reply at stumps on the second day.

Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was fined 50 per cent of his match fee by the match referee for using a sponsor's logo on his gloves, also a violation of the code of conduct.