Pakistan cricketer Asif Afridi banned for two years

NEW DELHI: Pakistan cricketer Asif Afridi has been banned for two years from all cricket. The spin allrounder was banned after he pleaded guilty to two violations of the board's anti-corruption code.
"Afridi has been handed a two-year period of ineligibility, while he was given a six-month ban for the violation of a second clause," the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
The 36-year-old Afridi, who was part of a squad to face Australia in limited-over matches last year but did not play in any of them, was initially suspended in September last year over failing to report an approach "to engage in corrupt conduct" during the National Twenty20 tournament.
"It gives the PCB no joy to suspend an international cricketer for two years, but we have a zero-tolerance approach towards such offences," PCB chairman Najam Sethi was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
"As the game's governing body, we need to make examples, handle such matters robustly and send out strong messages to all cricketers. It is bitter fact that corruption poses a threat to our sport as selfish corrupters lure cricketers in different ways and methods. That's precisely why the PCB has been investing heavily on player education so that they remain vigilant and can help the PCB eradicate this menace by reporting approaches. If, despite all our best efforts to create awareness, a player falls victim to his greed, then the PCB has no sympathy," Sethi added.