Additional Ban Handed to Ahmad Shehzad For Playing Club Cricket

Pakistan batsman Ahmad Shehzad has attracted an additional six weeks of a ban for playing club cricket while serving his doping ban. Previously, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) banned him for four months for violating their anti-doping laws.

Meanwhile, PCB back-datedly banned him from July 10, so he was eligible to play from next week. The 26-year-old, who has made 151 international appearances across all formats, has now sustained with another sanction after it came to light that he has played for Muslim Gymkhana Cricket Club while on a ban.

However, Ahmad Shehzad has explained in a PCB hearing that he was not aware of the rules. The swashbuckling batsman unreservedly apologised for an error of judgement. Shehzad said that he turned out for his local club as he wanted to go back to his roots and give something back to the community.

Shehzad’s explanation was not unsatisfactory according to PCB, and he will serve a six-week ban from November 11.

“Mindful that the instant decision will also serve as a constructive lesson to Ahmed Shahzad and other cricketers, that strict adherence to applicable rules and regulations is mandatory, a new period of ineligibility is imposed on Ahmed Shahzad which will be applicable from November 11th, 2018,” the PCB said in a statement.

The new six-week ban effectively rules out the opener for the ongoing series against New Zealand and perhaps also out of the tour of South Africa from December.