Afridi fined Pak Rs4.5mn, but cleared to play abroad

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Sacked Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was on Thursday slapped with a hefty fine of Pak Rs4.5 million by the PCB disciplinary committee after he pleaded guilty of breaching the Cricket Board's Code of Conduct at a hearing here.

Afridi was, however, granted no-objection certificate to play abroad, clearing the way for his appearance for Hampshire in English Twenty20 tournament and in Sri Lanka Premier League.

The all-rounder pleaded guilty before the four-member committee to the charges of violating his central contract clauses in unilaterally announcing his retirement and criticising the PCB and its officials.

"The committee unanimously decided to fine him Pak Rs4.5 million ($53,000) for various breaches of code of conduct," PCB legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi told reporters here.

"The committee recommended his NOCs to play abroad be restored, which Pakistan Cricket Board has endorsed," he said.

Afridi reacted to the committee ruling by stating that he was not interested in playing international cricket at the moment.

"Right now I am not thinking about playing international cricket. But I will be going to England to play for Hampshire," Afridi said.

The PCB announced the decisions of the disciplinary committee, headed by Sultan Rana, nearly three hours after the hearing.

Earlier in the day, Afridi had refused to apologise for his alleged violation of PCB Code of Conduct but said that he would accept the verdict of the disciplinary committee.

"I admit I have made mistakes but circumstances forced me to do things. But I have not apologised to the committee," Afridi had told reporters after the hearing.