Shahid Afridi's lawyer attacks 'sham' Pakistan disciplinary hearing

Shahid Afridi's lawyer has called the Pakistan Cricket Board's disciplinary process "a sham" as it prepares to pass judgment on the former one-day and Twenty20 captain.

Afridi is due to appear before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday after the all-rounder criticised top PCB officials, and said he would retire. The board responded by cancelling his central contract and revoking the paperwork which enables him to play county cricket in England for Hampshire.

Under the terms of a central contract, a Pakistan player is bound not to violate the PCB's code of conduct, even after he announces his retirement. It is also mandatory for every player to get a No Objection Certificate from the board if he wishes to compete in any cricketing event abroad.

The committee will hold its proceedings in camera and no outsider will be allowed to take part.

"It appears that the PCB has already made up its mind and has come to the conclusion that Mr Shahid Afridi is 'guilty'," Ali said in in a letter to PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi, adding that "the disciplinary proceeding is in fact a sham".

Afridi's lawyer was also unhappy with the proceedings behind held closed doors, arguing that the board "has no right to impose an embargo on the right of our client to legal representation".

Afridi's relations with the PCB became strained soon after he returned home following Pakistan's 3-2 victory over the West Indies in an ODI series during April and May.

Afridi accused team management of interfering in his job as captain, prompting PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to name Misbah-ul-Haq as the skipper for a two-match series against Ireland. Afridi subsequently pulled out of the squad for the Ireland series, which Pakistan won 2-0, saying that his father was ill.

The turning point came when Afridi criticised the PCB officials, including one of the selectors Muhammad Ilyas, and then announced he was retiring from international cricket in protest. However, the enigmatic allrounder also said that, if the present board setup was to change, he might return.

The PCB said later that it was concerned about outside interference in Afridi's disciplinary case, given the reactions in Pakistan.

"It is disappointing that despite Afridi has pleaded guilty to the offenses, some political functionaries are extending their support with a view to influencing the disciplinary process being followed by PCB," Butt said.