Pakistan banned maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar from playing cricket for five years on Tuesday for violating the players' code of conduct, the country's cricket chief said.
The 32-year-old Akhtar appeared before a disciplinary committee earlier on Tuesday charged with publicly criticising the country's board. He was already on two years' probation for hitting a teammate with a bat.
The ban effectively ends the controversial eleven-year career of the world's fastest bowler, which has been plagued by injuries, discipline problems and a doping scandal in 2007.
"The committee has recommended a five year-ban on Shoaib Akthar. He will be ineligible to play in Pakistan or to play for Pakistan anywhere else in the world," PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters.
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