Pakistan

Boys gone wild: Afridi, Shehzad among 8 cricketers fined for breaching team curfew

They have also been warned that a repeat offence will see them kicked out of the tournament which starts on Saturday

Afp February 12, 2015

PHOTO: TWITTER

SYDNEY: Eight cricket players, including maverick former captain Shahid Afridi, have been fined for breaching a team curfew ahead of their crucial World Cup game against India, sources told AFP on Thursday.

They have also been warned that a repeat offence will see them kicked out of the tournament which starts on Saturday.

"Eight of the Pakistan players, which also included former captain Shahid Afridi and opener Ahmed Shehzad, were fined 300 Australian dollars (US $230) after they came late to their Sydney hotel on Sunday," sources in the Pakistan team told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The team management, headed by manager Naveed Cheema, a former military man, claimed the players arrived 45 minutes late after a night out.

"These players went with their friends for dinner but came back late," said a team source.

The players are understood to have apologised and have promised not to repeat the offence.

Team management have told the players that if such a breach was repeated they will be sent home on the first available flight.

Pakistan are placed in Group B of the 14-team World Cup which starts in New Zealand and Australia from Saturday.

COMMENTS (27)

Targeting | 9 years ago | Reply @Ricky: No need to target Afridi. He just erred. But he is a good influence on the team. Take it easy.

Ricky | 9 years ago | Reply Afridi and gang are above the laws and regulations. Everybody should shut up and let the prince have his late nights on public expense.

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Akbar Jahanzeb Durrani | 9 years ago | Reply There is nothing wrong in having a curfew regime for teams playing important tournaments. Unfortunately it is our national culture that people do not adhere to professional discipline. Specially our players go beserk when on a " Foren Trip " specially to the developed western world ! That is a FACT !

Jigz Khan | 9 years ago | Reply We as whole nation are emotional and very indiscipline, every one is getting emotional here. Team Discipline must not be ignored by any player weather it is Afridi or any one else. Autralian Media always try find stories to defame players, and bookies would also be active in these days. so i stand with the Disciplinary Action taken against theses Players. also appreciate players who reieved punishment with open heart and committed not the repeat the offense.

abcd | 9 years ago | Reply Follow rule and discipline. Any brat should be sent home immediately. There is lots of talent available...let them know it. Hopefully the military man will make good on his threat next time someone gets late.

Shazia Bangash | 9 years ago | Reply @Chachoo: Pakistani tax payer is not paying for thir enjoyment - the PCB makes a huge profit of hundreds of millions of dollars through the hard work of these stars!

Shahid | 9 years ago | Reply @Shoaib Bhatti: Lagaan part was witty!

Shahid | 9 years ago | Reply Rules should be spelled out clearly before start of the tour and if any player has any issues they should be resolved there and then.

Talha | 9 years ago | Reply @Chachoo: What a Six! that is out of the park ma man!! :)

danyaal | 9 years ago | Reply I don't blame most of the people who are saying PCB is making a big issue. Since we are Pakistani we don't know what LAW, RULES, REGULATION mean we do as we please no wonder Pakistan is a law free state as mindset of people says it all. any rule or law imposed on us we don't like it then we say we want to develop without following any rule or conduct. Bravo!

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply Rules are made to be followed. I fully agree in-discipline in any sphere of life should not be tolerated and I am happy they have got the first and the final warning from a strict team Manager. This will be an eye opener for them to go early to bed to rise afresh to play natural fighting cricket. This is good habit is being forced and is implemented for their good and team at large. Every good step by Manager and PCB is welcomed - after all they are touring for world cup and various countries on tax payers money. Keep it up Manager / PCB. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi

Wrong | 9 years ago | Reply @Shoaib Bhatti: What makes you think that all eight players would reenact indiscipline of this sort? Wrong conclusion. They would take the right lesson and desist from frivolous attitude and would likely become properly disciplined.

Be your self | 9 years ago | Reply Some boys fancy themselves as if they were Ranbir Kapoor. Let them own their very self.

Shoaib Bhatti | 9 years ago | Reply "Team management have told the players that if such a breach was repeated they will be sent home on the first available flight." This is so stupid, making a mockery of a small issue, Already the team is handicapped with so many injuries. So who are they going to play if they send these 8 players home, players from the movie Lagaan?

Asif | 9 years ago | Reply These guys act as though they own Pakistan. Are you telling me from a population of 180/2 million you cannot find better player then these goons. Nepotism and favoritism comes to mind.

Preempt | 9 years ago | Reply @Names: Yes, I am referring to the "swinger." The one who sold out to India all his tricks and trained Irfan Pathan and gave the youngster all the guiles he had learnt all through his career.

Names | 9 years ago | Reply @Preempt: Please name the player who got too drunk and got on the wrong side of the law? Are you talking about the "swinger?"

Preempt | 9 years ago | Reply Well done, Cheema. Keep it up. We had players disgrace the nation by getting too drunk on beaches and then were found on the wrong side of the law of the land. If players are up and do not get enough sleep they cannot give hundred percent. There has to be some discipline. And, sure, kick them out if they repeat acts of indiscipline since that is the only way they shall learn.

zara | 9 years ago | Reply someone else is pulling strings , pcb bureaucrats are just the frontline actors.

Saad | 9 years ago | Reply That's a terribly stupid rule. Sure, they shouldn't be on a party binge before the tournament but they do need to be able to shake off their nervousness and feel human for a change. Locking them up in hotel rooms will rattle their nerves even more and they will crumble in a high pressure game.

Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply @Chachoo: Could not agree less. Thanks for pointing out things so precisely. I hope our players will not see this as harsh treatment and accept rules. O dear boys!! Some of you are quite mature and have been playing for long time and ought not to violate your contract. Hope the incident does not subdue your spirit in any way but you brought it on you yourself. Unfortunately in the event of defeat your some of your fans will think you have not been focussing on the game while out there although we know you are all stars and doing a good job. Now forget what happened, we all do mistakes, just concentrate on your practice and we will be praying for your success. Best wishes

Ram | 9 years ago | Reply Just for 45 minutes late? Come on, this is so uptight! After all, they are not soldiers or school children. They are adult sportsmen and entertainers! I don't deny there must be some discipline but it ought to be a gentleman's unwritten honor code and not this kind of military stricture. All that said, I wonder what Ahmed Shehzad is doing that late. Isn't he the pious high priest? Oh, maybe he was proselytizing which is allows 24x7, I guess....

Shazia Bangsh | 9 years ago | Reply These are ridiculous bureaucrats trying to look useful... I would have liked to see them try to stop Imran, Sarfraz, Wasim Raja or one of other party stars of the old days - they would have gotten laughed at if not punched!! These morons need to realise they are dealing with adults and professionals who are national heroes because of their hard work and dedication over years and years!

marshal law | 9 years ago | Reply this is so stupid. 45 mins late. can be for so many legit reasons. Traffic, unknown locations. They may have lost directions. Very stupid from PCB. Afridi anyways is religious and doesn't drink so its not like they went clubbing, at the same time he is also above corruption and will ensure the other boys keep in check their behaviour.

Chachoo | 9 years ago | Reply @Bilal: Every Cricket team follow such rules. Cricket players of other teams are not allowed to enjoy orgies or to leave without any information. Gamblers could contact them when they are travelling alone and for such reasons there must be strict rules. Also remember they are under the contract of PCB and contract obligations must be followed. Indirectly Pakistani tax payers are paying for their enjoyment so they must think about playing rather than enjoying and breaching contract rules.

Bilal | 9 years ago | Reply This is harsh.Team manager should understand that players are the stars not the other way round.While the rest of players from other teams are enjoying their time out there,our players are forced to live in their mundane rooms.How can you expect them to be confident out in the middle when you have got a stick at their head twenty four hours of the day.

Ameen Yousuf | 9 years ago | Reply This is so messed up. Why can't the pcb let our llayers be and remove these stupid restrictions.

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