Shoaib Akhtar Banned for 5 years

Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been banned from playing cricket for five years for violating the players' code of conduct.

The 32-year-old appeared before a disciplinary committee today charged with publicly criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He was already on two years' probation for hitting a team-mate with a bat.

The ban effectively ends a controversial 11-year career of the world's fastest bowler, who has had had had several disciplinary problems and was involved in a doping scandal in 2007.

Nasmi Ashraf, the PCB chairman, said: "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.