Shoaib Akhtar fined in sponsorship breach by AFP

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Player:

Shoaib Akhtar

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DateLine: 27th December 2006

 

Fiery Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar was fined for refusing to wear the logo of a sponsor of the national cricket board during a domestic tournament, an official said Wednesday.

 

The 31-year-old, who returned to the sport earlier this month after successfully appealing against a two-year ban for doping, was leading Islamabad Leopards in a national Twenty20 contest on Tuesday night.

 

"Akhtar refused to wear a logo of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sponsor and, as a breach, match referee Anwar Khan fined him 10,000 rupees (166 dollars)," PCB spokesman Dr Ahsan Malik said.

 

Akhtar, who has played 42 Tests and 133 one-day internationals for Pakistan, is currently featuring in Pakistan's tune-up camp for next month's tour of South Africa.

 

The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland is next week expected to hear an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency against Pakistan's decision to overturn bans on Akhtar and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif.

 

A tribunal in November banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. They had to fly home from the Champions Trophy in India.

 

An appeals committee on December 5 upheld the fast bowlers' appeals against the punishment, saying they had not knowingly taken the substance and that they had not been properly educated about doping matters.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)