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Afridi charged after fan incident

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KARACHI, Pakistan -- Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for conduct unbecoming after an incident during the first one-day international against South Africa.

The ICC said on its Web site (www.icc-cricket.com) on Thursday that the charge was brought by chief executive Malcolm Speed for conduct which could bring players and officials or the game of cricket into disrepute.

The incident involving Afridi took place at the Centurion on Sunday after he was dismissed during the match.

As the Pakistani player walked up the stairs towards the dressing room a spectator apparently said something to him and Afridi reacted by appearing to push his bat at the person in an aggressive manner, causing the spectator to take evasive action.

If found guilty of a Level 3 offence, Afridi faces a ban of between two and four Test matches or four to eight one-day internationals.

Afridi, who blasted a match-winning 77 from 35 balls in the second one-day match on Wednesday, will attend a hearing that will take place as soon as possible. The ICC said that until the hearing takes place, Afridi remains available to play for Pakistan.

Speed laid the charge after studying video footage of the incident while in the Caribbean, where he is attending a series of meetings ahead of the World Cup.

Under the Code, he is one of four individuals or groups entitled to lay a charge, the others being the umpires, either side's team manager and either side's chief executive officer.

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