Karachi, March 26: Pakistan Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi and former captain Younus Khan have appealed against the penalties imposed on them by the country’s cricket board.
Afridi has filed an appeal against the Rs 3 million fine and six months probation imposed on him, while Younis has challenged the indefinite ban placed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“Yes I have sent a notice to the Chief Operating Officer of the Board Wasim Bari asking him on what grounds have I been fined by the Board,” Afridi said.
Afridi’s decision to appeal comes just two days after he was appointed captain for the forthcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.
“I have taken the plea that when the Board Chairman Ijaz Butt himself has said on record that the PCB would not punish me twice for the same offence how can they fine me now for ball tampering,” Afridi said.
Afridi pleaded guilty to ball tampering charges during the fifth and final one-day international against Australia in Perth last month and was subsequently banned for two matches by the ICC match referee.
The PCB also while imposing fine on him said that his ball tampering incident had brought Pakistan cricket into disrepute and spoilt its image.
Ahmed Qayyum, the lawyer for Younus said that he had sent a letter to the Board asking them to explain on what grounds was the indefinite ban imposed on his client.
“The chargesheet they have sent to Younus contains no proper evidence or explanation to back up the indefinite ban, there is no reasoning given for the ban,” he said.
“We have basically asked the Board to provide us with solid evidence that Younus was involved in infighting with Muhammad Yousuf and they disrupted the team’s dressing room atmosphere,” he added.
Qayyum said that if the Board was unable to give a satisfactory reply or provide evidence then Younus would seek help from the court of law.
“We want this issue to be settled amicably and the ban to be ended but if that does not happen then we will go to the court,” Qayyum said.
Younus left for the United States yesterday night on a Islamic relief fund tour and will be back next week.
The Board has set up a three-member appellate tribunal comprising of three former judges of the Supreme Court and High Court.
A Board official said that the letters sent by Afridi and Younus would be studied by the PCB’s legal adviser before a answer is drafted. “If need arises the matter can be referred to the tribunal,” he said.
Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved, who have been banned for 12 months each and fined Rs 2 million each, have also said they will appeal against their punishments on returning from Sharjah where they have gone to play the Bangladesh Twenty20 league.
Akmal too will appeal against fine
Senior wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has also made up his mind to appeal against the Rs three million fine slapped on him for alleged breach of code of conduct during Pakistan’s tour of Australia.
The same day that Shahid Afridi and Younus Khan sent letters to the Pakistan Cricket Board challenging penalties imposed on them, Kamran said he would also appeal against the fine imposed on him.
“Presently my entire focus is just on the World Cup because it is a very important event for us and I am working hard for it,” Kamran said.
“But yes, I will appeal because I don’t think I deserve such a heavy fine when I have always given my best for Pakistan,” he said.
Kamran said once he is satisfied with his preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup, he will approach the board directly and ask them to reconsider the fine imposed on him.
“If the matter is not settled and I am not satisfied with their response I have other options available to me as well,” he said.
Kamran’s performance on the recent tour of Australia came under the scanner particularly after he dropped three catches and missed out a run-out in the second Test in Sydney which Pakistan was in a strong position to win at one time.
Kamran’s name was also mentioned in the media in match-fixing allegations on the tour.
Kamran has been named in Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the World Cup in the West Indies and will start attending a full-fledged training camp here from March 28.
Kamran’s younger brother Umar was also fined two million rupees by the board for violating the code of conduct in Australia.
Kamran said it was upto Umar whether he wanted to appeal against his fine.
The wicketkeeper was optimistic about Pakistan’s chances in the Twenty20 World Cup, saying that they had the ability to bounce back from the recent controversies and penalties imposed on players by the board.
“Even now we have the players who can do well in the World Cup. Obviously the ban on senior players is disappointing but one moves on and the team still has to try to live up to the expectations of the nation,” he said.
—–PTI