Former Pakistan cricket captain Mohammed Yousuf has not appealed against a ban imposed on him by cricket authorities, leaving the punishment to attain finality, official said Saturday. "The last date to appeal against the penalties was April 16 and since Yousuf did not challenge the punishment, the ban has attained finality," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi told AFP.
The PCB last month imposed heavy fines and bans on seven top cricketers on the recommendations of an evaluation committee, set up to look into team's dismal performance on the tour of Australia between December-February. The committee also investigated the off-field discipline problems on the Australian tour and two preceding tours of New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan lost all three Tests, five one-day matches and a Twenty20 international on the Australian tour. Yousuf alongwith another former captain Youns Khan was banned for "indefinite period keeping in view their infighting which resulted in bringing down the whole team."
PCB later clarified that "it is not a life ban and as and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team." Yousuf retired from international cricket "for the time being" and did not appeal in protest.
Talking to AFP, Yousuf confirmed Saturday saying: "I have left the matter to Allah Almighty and did not appeal." Besides Yousuf and Younus, another former captain Shoaib Malik and all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were banned for one year and fined two million rupees (24,000 dollars) for breaches of discipline.
Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal were also heavily fined. All penalised players, except for Yousuf, have filed appeals with the PCB. Rizvi said PCB governing board will refer the matter to an independent arbitrator, "who will regulate the appeal process." The PCB last month appointed two retired Supreme Court judges - Muneer Sheikh and Jamshed Ali Shah - and former high court judge Irfan Qadir to deal with the appeals.
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