Geo436.com blog: Three Pak cricketers fined on discipline violation

Geo 436 DUBAI: Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam on Sunday revealed three cricketers were fined for disciplinary reasons, saying there remains no tolerance on the rules implemented in the new code of conduct.

Opener Shahzaib Hasan, spinner Abdul Rehman and wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider were fined 500 dirhams (136 dollars) for breaking curfew timings during the ongoing one-day series against South Africa, played in the United Arab Emirates.

“We have reminded the players that there will be no tolerance on discipline and after these three players returned late to the team hotel by five minutes they have been fined and issued show-cause notices,” team manager Intikhab Alam told reporters.

Alam said the players have been told of severe consequences if they breach the code of conduct again, with double fines and other sanctions.

Pakistan introduced a new players” code of conduct with stricter punishments last month, following problems of discipline and corruption which rocked their cricket recently.

Three Pakistani players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer — were suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last month after allegations of spot-fixing against them.

The suspension came after a report in the British tabloid News of the World, claiming several Pakistani players — including the suspended trio — had obeyed an alleged book-maker to deliberately bowl no-balls during Lord”s Test against England in August.

The ICC also launched a separate inquiry after tip off from another British tabloid The Sun, which claimed that Pakistan”s scoring pattern in a one-day match at The Oval, played on September 17, was pre-arranged with book-makers.

However, the inquiry was finished after the ICC found no evidence.

In view of recent problems, the ICC advised Pakistan Cricket Board to take strict measures in order to curb discipline problems and corruption, failing in which may result in sanctions.