CAPE TOWN, Feb 10: Shahid Afridi is certain to miss Pakistan's first two World Cup matches after being handed a four-match One-day International ban on Saturday for brandishing his bat at a spectator, during the first one-dayer against South Africa in Centurion.

Pakistan only have two more full internationals – the last of the five-match series in South Africa – before their opening World Cup match in the Caribbean against West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston.

The ruling was handed down by Chris Broad, the ICC match referee from England, after the Pakistan squad arrived here for the fourth One-day International at Newlands on Sunday.

Afridi was charged with a Level three offence under section C 2 of the Code which refers to “conduct unbecoming...which could bring (players or officials) or the game of cricket into disrepute.”

The charge was laid by ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed and relates to an incident which took place after Afridi was dismissed during the first match of the current series. As he walked up the steps TV pictures showed him push his bat towards a spectator after something had been said to the player.

After finding Afridi guilty Broad said: “I took into account what I considered to be the mitigating circumstances of a spectator in close proximity to the player shouting at him as he returned to the dressing room. I also spoke to the spectator in question ahead of the hearing to get his version of events.

“However, I found it impossible to escape the conclusion that Mr Afridi's actions were a clear threat to that spectator,” he added, “and had that person not taken evasive action then the bat would almost certainly have hit him.

“Such an act is completely unacceptable and on that basis I found the player guilty of the Level three offence.”

Broad also made a point about the circumstances in which the incident took place.

“For the record, I do not believe spectators should be that close to the players or that they should feel they can shout whatever they like and think that is acceptable,” he said. “That is a view I have expressed to Cricket South Africa.”A player found guilty under levels two, three or four has the right to appeal and has 24 hours to lodge it. If Afridi decides to appeal he will continue to be eligible to play until the appeal is heard.

The hearing was attended by Afridi as well as Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and team manager Talat Ali.—Agencies