October 13, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 30, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 12: Pakistan’s cricket chief hit out at Shoaib Akhtar on Friday, saying the controversial paceman damaged the nation’s cricket image and needed psychiatric counselling.

Shoaib was banned on Thursday for 13 international matches and fined 3.4 million rupees (US$56,000) primarily for hitting his team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat.

“Shoaib hurt Pakistan’s image and got the maximum punishment. Some form of counselling from a psychiatrist is compulsory for him,” Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Dr Nasim Ashraf told reporters.

The 32-year-old Shoaib has apologised for hitting Asif with a bat after practice three days before the start of the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa last month.

Dr Nasim said the ban and fine – the biggest ever imposed on a cricketer at international level other than in match-fixing – should set an example for all players.

“We have set an example as Shoaib (Akhtar) has got the maximum possible punishment and he has accepted them. Shoaib has accepted his mistake and we hope that such a sad incident will not happen again,” he added.

But the PCB chief said that Shoaib must ensure such an incident never happens again.

“Shoaib will be under probation of two years and in case of any further breach of code of conduct there will be grounds for a life ban and I hope Akhtar has learnt his lesson,” he stated.—AFP