Punishing the players was necessary, says PCB chief

"For long now, the trend we saw in the team was that some players were only playing for themselves as individuals and not keeping team interest paramount," Butt told the media in Sargodha.

"You could see this from the body language of players on the tour of Australia what was going on in the team. There was indiscipline," he said.

Butt said the board felt time had come to put an end to this culture in the team which was damaging Pakistan cricket.

"So we took what we felt was the best possible action against the players," he added. The PCB, acting on the recommendations of an inquiry committee, imposed indefinite bans on senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan and banned Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved for one year besides fining them two million rupees each.

The board also fined all-rounder Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal three million rupees each and put them on six months probation, besides imposing a fine of two million rupees on Umar Akmal. "We have sent out a clear message to the players that we will no longer tolerate any act that goes against the team or board policies," Butt said.

PCB to appear before Senate standing committee on sports

Lahore, Mar 15 (PTI)

PCB officials will have to explain the basis on which they took disciplinary action against seven players when they appear before the Senate standing committee on sports at the national cricket academy here tomorrow.

The Senate committee Chairman, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi said that the committee would be looking into cricket affairs notably the disciplinary action taken against players.

"We have invited the PCB Chairman and other officials to attend the hearing because we want to know on what basis was this action taken. We have also heard complaints about the board announcing action against players without first taking approval of governing council of the board," Qureshi said.

There is increasing pressure on Pakistan Cricket board to reveal the details based of which it enforced the punishments. The PCB acting on the recommendations of an inquiry committee that probed into reports of infighting in the team and its poor performance Down Under imposed indefinite bans on senior batsman, Muhammad Yousuf and Younus Khan.

The board also banned Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved for one year besides fining them Rs two million each. It also fined Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal Rs three million each, besides imposing a fine of Rs two million on Umar Akmal. The Senators will also look into the reports of the manager, coach and captain on the recent Australian tour.
"The issue here is that the senators want to know the charges against the players and also details of the management reports but will Ejaz Butt agree to reveal details," one source close to the Senate committee said.