On th eve of first Twenty20 World Cup in a bizarre but not entirely surprising episode Shoaib Akhtar has been reported to have injured fellow fast bowler and teammate Mohammad Asif after a heated argument broke out between the two of them during the net session in Johanessberg. Shoaib has immediately been sent home from the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa by the first available flight.
The incident, occurred in the nets on Thursday when a heated argument led to the 32-year-old Akhtar striking his fellow fast bowler on the thigh with a bat.
"A decision has been taken to call back Shoaib on the basis of an initial inquiry by the touring team management," PCB chief executive Shafqat Naghmi told reporters. "Shoaib has admitted hitting Asif," he said. "Thankfully Asif didn't suffer any major injury apart from a bruise on his left thigh and he will be okay." He said a full inquiry would be held when Akhtar returned to Pakistan.
Akhtar told the Indian television channel NDTV: "I am feeling very bad. Sometimes you do things in a fit of temper".
No decision has yet been taken on a replacement for Akhtar, which is allowed under tournament rules, but a PCB source said paceman Mohammad Sami was being lined up.
PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf was shocked by the incident.
"It is a shameful episode," he said. "For the time being we have supported the team management's decision to send him back but once the team returns home there will be a more detailed disciplinary hearing." He did not rule out the possibility of Akhtar facing more disciplinary action including a possible long-term ban. He also said the board would not allow any player to violate team spirit.
"We are giving a lot of importance to discipline and any player who violates the norms has to face the consequences," he added.
National Academy coach Aaqib Javed, the former Pakistan fast bowler, said the PCB should ban Akhtar for life.
"There must be a life ban imposed on him because this is an incident that has embarrassed all of us and is a black mark for our cricket community," he said.
Former test captain Aamir Sohail said the board had taken the right decision.
"Senior players have a responsibility in the team and what Shoaib did was sad," he said. "The incident needs to be investigated thoroughly."
Akhtar has a history of run-ins with players and officials and has been reprimanded on several occasions.
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