'Acrimonious' PCB-Afridi standoff ends in a whimper

Lahore, June 15(ANI): Pakistan Cricket Board Spokesman Nadeem Sarwar has confirmed that PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt had held a meeting former captain Shahid Afridi, but refused to divulge any details of the unexpected meeting.

In the light of Afridi's sudden retirement and his harsh words against the PCB in the wake of his removal as Pakistan's one-day international (ODI skipper) by the board, the PCB had suspended his central contract and revoked all No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued to him, which meant he was unable to represent Hampshire in the Twenty20 competition.

"Yes, we can confirm that a meeting has taken place between the board chairman and Shahid Afridi, but we are not in a position to give out details of the discussions that took place at this meeting," The Nation quoted Sarwar, as saying.

However, sources disclosed that the meeting had taken place on the insistence of a government official close to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the chief patron of the PCB.

"It has been decided in the meeting that Afridi will withdraw his petition and appear before the disciplinary committee of the board," another source divulged.

He said that in return for Afridi's compliance, the PCB's disciplinary committee would impose a token fine and seek an apology from him, and that the board would immediately reissue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Afridi for playing in England and Sri Lanka. (ANI)