Temperamental fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was banned for five years by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday for repeated disciplinary violations.

Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf told a news conference the suspension was imposed on the recommendation of the PCB disciplinary committee and the paceman had the right to appeal.

The 32-year-old Akhtar's international career will almost certainly be over unless he gets the ban overturned. He described the punishment as harsh and unjustified and said he was ready to take court action to fight it.

"He can't play for Pakistan or anywhere in Pakistan. But he can play in the Indian Premier League which is not in our jurisdiction," said Ashraf.

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, 27, who like Akhtar criticised board policies when the new central contracts were announced in January, escaped with a reprimand and warning.

Akhtar, who has appeared in 46 Tests and 138 one-day internationals and was ranked among the fastest bowlers of the modern era, was dropped from the list of contracts while Kaneria was demoted.

Tuesday's announcement came after the two players appeared before the disciplinary committee in Rawalpindi.
"He (Akhtar) was already under a two-year probation period from last year," said Ashraf. "He committed repeated offences of indiscipline from 2004 to 2008, around 15 in total.

"We gave him lots of chances in the past but he reached a stage where he had become damaging for himself and Pakistan cricket and a habitual offender.

"The board has lost confidence in Shoaib Akhtar."

Ashraf said Akhtar's presence in the dressing room was damaging the team.

Sad moment

"It is a sad moment for me, Pakistan cricket and Shoaib Akhtar," added the PCB chairman. "But there can be no compromises on discipline, a line has to be drawn somewhere.

"We gave him a lot of chances to mend his ways. We have no animosity towards him but we want to protect our team and make it a disciplined unit."

The fast bowler dubbed the 'Rawalpindi Express' said he was shocked by the PCB's actions.

"This ban comes as a shock because I had apologised for my statements and actions to the disciplinary committee today," Akhtar told reporters. "I will go to court if I have to and fight this ban.

"I have always given 100 percent for the national team. How can they accuse me of being a damaging influence on the team?"

Akhtar escaped a doping ban in December 2006 when he appealed against a two-year suspension imposed on him after he tested positive for a banned substance before the Champions Trophy in India the same year.

Akhtar’s claim

He said playing for Pakistan meant everything to him.

"I bowled with a high fever during the recent Test series in India," said Akhtar. "I did it for the team. "I have had problems here and there but I have always respected my seniors and got along well with my juniors.

"For me, nothing is more important than playing for Pakistan. It is hard to bear with this stigma attached to me."

In October, Akhtar was put on a two-year probation and banned for 13 international matches for four breaches of discipline including striking team mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam supported the five-year ban.

"Enough is enough," said Intikhab. "No doubt he is a very good cricketer and one of the fastest bowlers I have seen but discipline has to be maintained."

MARRIED TO CONTROVERSIES

Sept 1997: Dropped from Pakistan one-day squad for a series in Toronto on the basis of tour manager's report of an earlier visit to England by the ‘A’ team.
Dec.1999: Banned for illegal bowling action.
Feb 2000: Banned for a Test and fined 50,000 rupees ($1,800) after breaching players' code of conduct on tour of Australia.
Jan 2001: Banned for illegal bowling action for a second time.
Nov 2002: Fined 50 percent of match fee, banned for an ODI for throwing a bottle into crowd during a Test in Zimbabwe.
Dec  2002: Suspended one-Test ban for ball tampering.
May 2003: Banned for two ODIs and fined 75 percent of match fee for ball tampering during a tri-series match in Sri Lanka.
Oct 2003: Banned for one Test and two ODIs for using obscene and offensive language towards South African Paul Adams in Lahore Test.
Dec 2004: Fined 40 percent of match fee for taunting a batsman during Test in Australia.
Jan 2005: Fined 25 percent of match fee for excessive appealing in ODI in Australia.
Oct 2006: Banned for two years for testing positive for nandrolone. Ban lifted on appeal two months later.
Aug  2007: Fined $5,000 for leaving training camp without permission. Fine suspended on appeal.
Oct 2007: Banned for 13 international matches and fined 3.4 million rupees  for four breaches of discipline including striking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa. Also put on two-year probatio.
April 2008: Banned for five years by PCB for violating code of conduct while under probation period.