Court suspends Afridi hearing

ISLAMABAD (AP):

The Pakistan Cricket Board's disciplinary committee proceedings against retired captain Shahid Afridi have been suspended by a court, a lawyer for the player said yesterday.

Afridi filed a petition at the Sindh High Court (SHC) yesterday, protesting against the PCB's decision to suspend his central contract and revoke his No Objection Certificates, which prevented him from playing abroad.

The PCB's disciplinary committee hearing was due to begin in Lahore today.

"The court has suspended the hearing and the PCB is bound to abide by the High Court,'' Afridi's lawyer Syed Ali Zafar told The Associated Press over the telephone.

Zafar had argued on Monday that Afridi would boycott the hearing because the PCB panel had already punished him without giving him the opportunity to defend himself.

PCB officials have been summoned to appear before the SHC tomorrow. PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told reporters in Lahore that the board will be represented by its lawyers.

"We will honour the orders of Sindh High Court,'' Ahmed said. "Our lawyers will appear before the court and we will accept whatever the court decides.''

Dozens of Afridi's supporters were present outside the SHC yesterday carrying portraits of their favourite cricketer. The enigmatic all-rounder shook hands with his supporters before leaving the court premises.

removed as captain

Afridi's differences with the PCB began soon after the tour of West Indies last month when he criticised team management for interfering. He subsequently was removed as captain for the two-match series against Ireland.

Afridi quit international cricket in protest, criticising the PCB officials, and said he would only resume his international career if the PCB was overhauled.

The PCB responded by suspending Afridi's central contract and revoking the No Objection Certificate that he needs to play for any team abroad.

Afridi led Pakistan to the World Cup semi-finals in March but cracks emerged in the relationship between captain and team management on his return from April's tour to the West Indies.

Pakistan won the first three one-day internationals to claim the series, but lost the last two.

Coach Waqar Younis' thoughts on Afridi were revealed yesterday when the Daily Dawn newspaper published the tour report from the trip to West Indies.

"As a captain I feel he (Afridi) is still very immature, has poor discipline, lacks game plan and is unwilling to listen to others' opinion or advice,'' Waqar was quoted as saying. "... sometimes his volatile and immature nature have proved detrimental and led to unfortunate outcomes, including game losses.''

Waqar said Afridi was unwilling to discuss the playing XI before the last two matches and came to team meetings with a "decisive mindset''.