Pakistan's flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been banned from playing in next month's tri-nation one-day tournament in Sharjah and also fined 50 per cent of his match fee on charges of sledging against Indian batsmen and an umpire during Pakistan's World Cup match against India in South Africa.
The punishment was handed down by the Pakistan Cricket Board Wednesday, a media release said.
Afridi was found guilty of sledging Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sewhag and also English umpire David Shepherd during the match played in Centurion on March 1.
"We received an official complaint from the International Cricket Council supported with evidence. The players were told prior to their departure for South Africa that no indiscipline will be tolerated. Unfortunately, Afridi breached the players Code of Conduct and had to be penalised," a PCB spokesman was quoted as saying.
Afridi has, however, been allowed to represent his team in the ongoing National Bank Patron's Cup one-day tournament.
The two-day meeting of the PCB decided to name the team for the Sharjah tournament on March 24 after the completion of the Patron's Cup.
"No decision on the future of the senior players has been taken as the selectors are still in discussion and would only finalise the 15-men team once they watch the matches," said PCB chief Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia.
The PCB has also not decided about the captain of the team. "Let the selectors first submit a squad of 15 and after that the captain will be picked," Zia said.
The Sharjah tournament, to be played from April 1 to 10, will have Sri Lanka and South Africa as the two other teams.