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Afridi's contract suspended

Lahore - The Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday suspended the central contract of former one-day captain Shahid Afridi, who had announced his retirement from international cricket, a board statement said.

At the same time it revoked all no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the player, meaning he will not be officially permitted to play abroad, the PCB said.

Afridi, a hugely popular big-hitting all-rounder, had been expected to play for Hampshire in the Twenty20 league in England next month, and also in the Sri Lanka Premier League a month later.

The 31-year-old, who was stripped of the Pakistan one-day captaincy earlier this month, announced his retirement from all international cricket on Monday following a spat with coach Waqar Younis.

"PCB has initiated action against Afridi in response to the multiple breaches he has committed under the central contract signed with PCB," the statement said.

"Afridi's central contract has been suspended with immediate effect. Consequently, all NOCs granted to him have been revoked. All payments on account of central contract have been suspended."

Afridi is in the "A" contract category, receiving a monthly salary of 250 000 rupees (about $2,900).

The PCB said Afridi must explain within seven days why he levelled allegations against the Board.

"In passing disparaging remarks about the board and its officials Afridi is in breach of clause 4.4 dealing with media obligations," said the statement.

Afridi had said he would not play under the current PCB set-up, headed by chairman Ijaz Butt, and accused the administration of mistreating the players.

Butt said Afridi's decision to retire was acceptable.

"If he has decided not to play under us then its his decision and we welcome it," the official told reporters. "Afridi has violated players' code of conduct and we have served show notice on him."

The player had lashed out at Younis for undue meddling in team selection.

"Everyone should do his job and must be held accountable for that," Afridi said, without naming anyone, on his return from the West Indies where he led the team to a 3-2 one-day series victory earlier this month.

When asked about his differences with Younis, Afridi replied: "The differences are not at a stage where they cannot be solved."

Afridi had withdrawn from Pakistan's latest matches, a one-day series against Ireland which finished in a 2-0 win on Monday, to be with his ailing father in the United States.

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