Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar has been banned for 13 international matches and fined $56,000 by the disciplinary committee of the country's cricket board for four breaches of the code of conduct.
The committee also placed the fast bowler on a two-year probation period. If he is found guilty of violating the code of conduct during that period, he could be banned for life.
Shoaib was sent back from the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa by the team management after he hit Mohammad Asif with a bat during a brawl before the tournament started.
Chairman of the committee Shafqat Naghmi said Shoaib's suspension would be counted from the Twenty20 World Cup held in South Africa last month, so having missed seven matches he would be banned for five more games.
‘He will not be considered for the five-match one-day series against South Africa but can make himself available for selection for the Indian tour (in November),’ Naghmi told reporters.
Shoaib, who was present at the news conference, said he would not be filing an appeal and that he had learnt his lesson.
‘I am just happy the nightmare is over for me and my main goal is now playing for Pakistan again. I have apologised to Asif and the board for the incident in South Africa. I have suffered enough,’ he said.
The 32-year-old, who has played 43 tests and 133 one-dayers, has had a controversial career for Pakistan since making his debut in 1997.
Shoaib was ruled out of Pakistan's World Cup squad in March after failing a fitness test.
Last year, he tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone during an out-of-competition test and was initially banned for two years. Shoaib was then cleared by a Pakistan tribunal.
