LAHORE: Pakistan on Thursday restored permission for former captain Shahid Afridi to play abroad, allowing him to join England's Twenty20 tournament and ending a damaging row, an official said.The announcement came after the star all-rounder halted legal proceedings and appeared before a three-man disciplinary committee in Lahore, where he said he had been forced into making a mistake.
The 31-year-old locked horns with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by announcing his retirement from international cricket after being dumped as one-day captain, and by condemning the current management.
The PCB said Afridi violated the players' code of conduct, suspended his central contract and revoked permission for him to play abroad, preventing him from joining Hampshire in the ongoing Twenty20 league in England.
"Afridi regretted the matter and said he will not contest the charges," said PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi on behalf of the committee.
"The committee unanimously decided to fine him 4.5 million rupees ($53,000) for various breaches of the code of conduct," he said.
"The committee also recommended his NOCs (No-Objection Certificates) to play abroad be restored, which the Pakistan Cricket Board has endorsed," Rizvi added.
The three-man disciplinary committee was made up of former first class player Sultan Rana, Test opener Shafiq Ahmed and Usman Wahla.
The stand-off began last month after Afridi publicly criticized coach Waqar Younis for meddling in team selection during a one-day series against the West Indies, which Pakistan won 3-2.
"Afridi appeared before the committee and explained his position and conduct which led to the suspension of his contract and revoking of the NOCs," said Rizvi, the legal advisor.
Afridi's retirement announcement and allegations against officials were both serious violations of players' code of conduct, he said.
The PCB suspended his central contract and ordered him to appear before the disciplinary committee on June 8.
Instead, Afridi went to court, challenging the sanctions and demanding that he be allowed to play abroad. The court ordered the committee meeting adjourned and summoned both parties on June 9.
It temporarily upheld the revoking of the NOCs before Afridi withdrew the case after meeting PCB chairman Ijaz Butt in Islamabad on Tuesday.
