LAHORE, Pakistan, Oct 17: The South African cricket team lodged a complaint against Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar for using abusive language during the first day’s play in the first Test on Friday, a spokesman said.

“South Africans have lodged a complaint against Shoaib for using abusive language against Paul Adams during the first day’s play,” said team spokesman Gerald de Kock.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee Clive Lloyd has summoned Shoaib, Pakistan team manager Haroon Rasheed and coach Javed Miandad along with Adams, South African coach Eric Simons, captain Greame Smith and manager Tim Southey.

If found guilty, Shoaib faces a lengthy ban as he has already been penalised earlier. “We assume the Match Referee would announce a decision by Saturday morning,” Southey said.

Pakistan manager Rasheed said it was a “level 2” offence under which Shoaib could face a ban of one Test or two one-day internationals.

Shoaib was reprimanded by Lloyd during Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe in November last year after he was charged with ball tampering and fined for throwing a bottle at the crowd on the same tour.

He was banned for two one-day internationals during a tri-nation event in Sri Lanka in May this year after television evidence showed he indulged in ball tampering.

Lloyd banned South African allrounder Andrew Hall on two breaches of code of conduct for an incident during the second one-day international in Lahore on Oct 5.

Hall elbowed Pakistan batsman Yousuf Youhana and both players then engaged in a verbal clash.

The South African captain, who intervened, was also charged for using abusive language and was banned for one one-day international and 50 per cent of his match fee.

Youhana was fined 50 per cent of his match fee.—AFP