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Pakistan's Shahid Afridi has been banned for four one-day internationals after being found guilty of breaching the ICC's code of conduct.
Afridi was charged with a level three offence under the code which refers to "conduct unbecoming which could bring players or officials or the game of cricket into disrepute" after an incident in the match against South Africa at Centurion this week.
Afridi reacted angrily to the comments of a spectator as he walked up the pavilion stairs after being dismissed and jabbed his bat in the spectator's direction, causing him to take evasive action.
In finding Afridi guilty of the charge, ICC match referee Chris Broad said: "I took into account what I considered to be the mitigating circumstances of a spectator in close proximity to the player shouting at him as he returned to the dressing room.
"I also spoke to the spectator in question ahead of the hearing to get his version of events.
"However, I found it impossible to escape the conclusion that Mr Afridi's actions were a clear threat to that spectator, and had that person not taken evasive action then the bat would almost certainly have hit him.
"Such an act is completely unacceptable and on that basis I found the player guilty of the level three offence.
"For the record, I do not believe spectators should be that close to the players or that they should feel they can shout whatever they like and think that is acceptable. That is a view I have expressed to Cricket South Africa."
Afridi has the right of appeal within 24 hours of the verdict and, should he do so, he would be able to continue playing until the appeal hearing.
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Source: Sky Sports |
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