September 10, 2007	Monday	Sha'aban 27, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 9: Shoaib Akhtar’s indiscipline act will be haunting Pakistan in the forthcoming home series against South Africa, too, as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) disciplinary committee will start inquiry into the case after the national team’s return from the Twenty20 World Championship.

“The disciplinary committee will look into every aspect of the unfortunate incident, but only in the presence of all the concerned cricketers in Pakistan after the completion of the World Cup in South Africa,” PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf told reporters on Sunday.

Shoaib allegedly hit fellow paceman Mohammad Asif with a bat in South Africa on Thursday as a result of which he was sent back to Pakistan by the PCB, which has also imposed on him a ban for an indefinite period.

The South African team is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Sept 26, soon after the Twenty20 World Championship, which means that the disciplinary committee will start its inquiry during the home series.

The PCB imposed the ban on Shoaib for an indefinite period after overruling the five one-day match ban slapped on him by team manager Talat Ali in South Africa.

While not responding to a question about the indefinite ban being unnecessary when the manager had already announced a punishment for the bowler, the chairman said: “The indefinite ban is final and there is no argument. There is no other punishment for Shoaib.”

But when asked about punishing only one of the three cricketers involved in the incident, the chairman said that the team manager had held a thorough inquiry before announcing the decision (five-match suspension).

He said the PCB’s internal disciplinary committee comprises Shafqat Naghmi, Naveed Akram and Zakir Khan, who would hold the inquiry. Shoaib has differences with Zakir.When asked about the committee’s impartiality in carrying out an inquiry when it comprises all PCB employees, the chairman assured the press that Shoaib would be given full opportunity to defend himself and he would be monitoring the proceedings personally. The chairman also advised Shoaib not to speak on the issue in the press, adding that the fast bowler would also have the opportunity to lodge his appeal before the PCB appellate tribunal against any decision of the disciplinary committee.

Commenting on the Pakistan ‘A’ team’s 3-0 win over its Australian counterpart at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, the chairman said that the boys did a commendable job making a never-die effort to chase the difficult target of 331.

According to the chairman, the credit goes to all the boys, the National Cricket Academy coach Aaqib Javed, chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed and his fellow selectors Saleem Jaffer and Shafqat Rana.

He said that although seasoned cricketers like Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal, Taufiq Umar, Khalid Latif and Naved Latif excelled in the series, some of the juniors such as Sohail Tanvir and Mansoor Amjad also impressed with their performances.