Pace ace Shoaib handed 13-game ban

LAHORE, Pakistan -- Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been given a 13-game international ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following his altercation with team-mate Mohammad Asif.

Shoaib was sent home from last month's World Twenty20 Cup in South Africa after a furious row saw him striking Asif with a cricket bat.

He was sent home immediately after the incident in Johannesburg -- and has also been fined 3.4 million rupee ($56,000).

Shoaib's international career is hanging in the balance but the 32-year-old has been given a glimmer of hope after the ban was implemented from the time of the incident.

With Pakistan reaching the finals in South Africa and playing seven matches nad now involved in a two-Test series against South Africa, he will have four further matches of his ban to serve.

He told TEN Sports in Lahore: "I did apologize to my team-mates, my country and the PCB.

"It happened in the heat of the moment, and I don't cherish it. It should have stayed in the dressing room -- but unfortunately it came out.

"Now I am back in cricket. I am looking forward to the India tour. It will be my last tour to India -- and I want to perform well again."

Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB chief operating officer, said Shoaib had been found guilty of five breaches of the PCB's code of conduct and would be under a two-year probation period with one further misdemeanor leading to a life ban from the international side.

Three of the breaches were concerned with the Asif incident, hitting a team-mate with a bat, accusing teammate Shahid Afridi of involvement and holding a press conference on the incident.

He was also punished for criticizing a PCB doping tribunal that banned him last year after a positive test for steroids and for playing a charity match in England without permission in August this year.

Shoaib, nicknamed the "Rawalpindi Express" for his fast bowling prowess, has promised to improve on his discipline after confirming he will accept his punishment. He said: "I am not going to appeal against the ban, I am hungry to play for Pakistan again." E-mail to a friend