Naved’s ban lifted by PCB

PCB lifts one-year ban on Rana Navedul Hasan and halves his Rs2 million fine that was imposed earlier this year.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lifted the one-year ban on all-rounder Rana Navedul Hasan and halved his Rs2 million fine that was imposed earlier this year. The decision, a day after the Pakistan squad was announced for the UAE series, means that every player who was punished by the PCB after the win-less Australian tour has now been pardoned and barring Naved and Younis Khan, the rest have represented Pakistan.

“It is a great relief to be finally cleared and now I just want to focus on playing cricket,” said Naved while speaking to reporters after the hearing at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Justice (retired) Irfan Qadir, who headed the one-man tribunal hearing, said, “Naved’s case was similar to the other players [who were banned or fined] so I recommended him to meet the PCB Chairman Ijaz But to clear things up.

“I have lifted the ban after Naved apologised for his conduct and served six months of the suspension. He is now free to be considered for national selection.”

Although Naved cannot take part in the UAE series against South Africa, the fast bowler is scheduled to appear in the Pakistan National Twenty20 Championship for Sialkot Stallions against Karachi Zebras in Lahore today.

“These punishments were a dark chapter of my career and I want to get over them. [From today] I will play domestic cricket and show my form to find a place in the side. After all I have lot of cricket left in me and I am desperate to play for Pakistan,” said Naved.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2010.