By SUNIL Sonkar
Karachi, Jan. 31 — Shahid Afridi, the Pakistani all-rounder, was banned on Sunday for two T20 Internationals. Afridi has been charged of tampering the ball in Perth during the fifth and final ODI against Australia.
Intikhab Alam, coach of Pakistan, have confirmed this saying that the Ranjan Madugalle, the Match Referee, has banned Shahid Afridi for the next two matches. The complaint of ball-tampering was filed by Asoka De Silva, on-field umpires, and also Paul Reiffel immediately after the match.
He said from Perth, “It is unfortunate what has happened because Afridi was due to lead Pakistan in the Twenty20 match next week against Australia.”
Shahid Afridi led the Pakistan cricket team in the final ODI substituting the unfit Mohammad Yousuf. In the match he was caught on the camera chewing the ball on one side while he was walking for the run up with bowler Mohammad Asif.
Changing the condition of the ball through illegal means prompts strict penalties from ICC.
Shahid Afridi was also banned in 2005 for twisting his spikes and also for trying to change the condition of the pitch during a Test match against England in Faisalabad.
