Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal will miss the first T20 against New Zealand on January 15 after being slapped with a one-match ban for violating the ICC's dress codeduring a domestic game here.
Pakistan's head coach Waqar Younis said that the ban was imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after Umar violated the code during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final here last week while playing for Sui Northern Gas.
"Apparently match referee Anwar Khan had warned him twice for wearing two logos instead of one in the match and he didn't pay heed," Waqar said before the national team's departure for New Zealand early this morning.
Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam said Umar had committed a level one offence of the ICC rules governing dress codes. Waqar said it was time Umar changed his attitude and focused on performing for Pakistan.
"look he has been around now in international cricket since 2009 and it is time he establishes himself in the team and becomes a consistent performer," the former Pakistan captain said.
"It is disappointing for the team management to find Umar getting involved in unnecessary issues. It is not helping his cricket career and not allowing him to focus on his cricket as well," Waqar said.
After the 2015 World Cup, Waqar had submitted a report to the PCB advising the authorities to not select Umar and opener Ahmed Shehzad for the national team until they changed their behaviour and become more disciplined. But after just one tournament, the national selectors picked both back in the side.
Umar is not part of the one-day squad in New Zealand and has only been picked for the T20 series. Intikhab explained the one-match ban applied on both international and domestic matches.
"It basically means that Umar is banned for his next match which happens to be the T20 in New Zealand."
Yasir to appeal against ban
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) on behalf of leg-spinner Yasir Shah that he will be exercising his right to appeal against the provisional ban imposed on him last month for a failed dope test.
A senior official of the PCB confirmed on Sunday that they had informed the ICC that Yasir will file his appeal by the given deadline of January 12th.
"The purpose of informing the ICC about the appeal is that the ICC will now according to anti-doping regulations form an independent tribunal within two weeks to hear the appeal.
"We have told the ICC today that Yasir will appeal the ban since he took the blood pressure medicine of his wife by mistake and there was no intention to use any masking agent," the official said.
"A written and detailed appeal will be sent to them on January 12," he said.
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said that Yasir had taken the medicine prescribed for his wife's high blood pressure by mistake late night during the series against England.
"His family also has a history of blood pressure and heart condition problems," he told the media this week in Karachi.
Butt, asif start redemption
Pakistan cricket's enfant terribles Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif started their journey on the road to redemption on Sunday with both the convicted spot-fixers making a successful return to competitive cricket during the National One-Day Competition.
Having served a prison sentence and a subsequent ban, it was the duo's first match in five years and four months since they were caught for spot-fixing during the 2010 series against England.
Former national captain Butt scored an attractive 135 while swing bowler Asif looked in good rhythm taking 2/23 in 6 overs with their team Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) defeating FATA region in a match played at Hyderabad (Sind).
Although their ban expired in September, the PCB kept them on hold making it compulsory for them to first complete a rehabilitation/reintegration program. The third member of the tainted trio Muhammed Aamir has already boarded the flight to New Zealand as he has been fast-tracked into the national squad.
"It is an incredible feeling to score a century after such a long time," Butt said. "I am delighted that I could make such a strong return after such a long lay-off. I credit Waqar and Yousuf for this. I was motivated by the words of the Pakistan coach and Yousuf helped me out in the nets with some useful tips," Butt said.