Afridi gets ball-tampering ban (From Daily Echo)

Afridi gets ball-tampering ban

6:10am Monday 1st February 2010 in

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Shahid Afridi has been suspended for two Twenty20 internationals after television cameras caught him biting the ball during Pakistan’s two-wicket defeat to Australia in Perth.

The Hampshire signing, who was captaining the side, was seen putting the ball to his mouth and apparently biting down on the surface of the ball.

In a hearing straight after the close, match referee Ranjan Madugalle imposed two suspension points on the all-rounder, equating to two T20 matches for his country.

Afridi, who will play T20 for Hampshire this summer, pleaded guilty to breaching article 2.2.9 of the International cricket Council’s Code Of Conduct after being charged with ‘changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket’ by on-field umpires Asoka de Silva and Paul Reiffel.

He said: "I am ashamed. I did it in the heat of the moment as the match was a close one, but I should not have done that, it's a serious offence.

"I apologise to all and everyone involved in the match and to the fans around the world. This will never happen again.

"Being the captain I should have been a role model for my players which I was not but I hope I will be forgiven."

Madugalle said: “I imposed the maximum penalty under the code to Shahid and reminded him of his responsibilities as a national captain which is to ensure that the match is played according to the laws of the game and in the spirit in which it is intended to be played.

“Shahid, when pleading guilty, apologised and regretted his actions.”

Afridi, who captains the Pakistan side in Twenty20 cricket, will miss the match against Australia next Friday as well as the first of two matches against England in Dubai on February 19.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam had earlier admitted Afridi’s transgression.

“It’s unacceptable,” Alam said. “It shouldn’t have happened but it happened and I feel sorry for him.

“Being a captain you should be above everything but unfortunately it’s happened.”

Afridi was previously banned for one Test and two ODIs for damaging the pitch with his boot during a Test match with England in 2005 after attention was diverted by an exploding gas canister.