Lahore, Oct 18: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was today banned for one Test match and two one-day internationals for using abusive language against South African player Paul Adams. South African team management had filed a complaint to International Cricket Council`s match referee Clive Lloyd against Shoaib after the first day`s play of the first cricket Test yesterday.
"This incident was unnecessary and unacceptable," Lloyd said in a statement.
Akhtar breached the ICC`s code of conduct and used offensive language against Adams toward the end of the first day`s play when the South African tail-ender was batting. At a hearing with Lloyd, the Pakistan paceman was found guilty of using language that was obscene, offensive or of a generally insulting nature to another player.
Akhtar earlier breached the ICC code of conduct for making an obscene gesture to the crowd during the fifth one-day international in Zimbabwe in December 2002 and was banned for one limited overs international and fined 50 per cent of his match fee.
He was also banned for two one-day internationals and fined 75 per cent of his match fee in May this year for ball tampering in a tri-series in Sri Lanka. "I have been very disappointed in the behaviour of both teams during this series and I would urge the coaches, captains and managers to get their players together and remind them of the importance of playing in a professional manner," Lloyd said. Bureau Report