Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been ordered to explain remarks reportedly made during a recent newspaper interview, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.
Chief executive Ramiz Raja said Shoaib had criticised his recent ban by the International Cricket Council in the interview with an unnamed Indian newspaper.
The 28-year-old also told the newspaper that he could become captain of Pakistan whenever he wants, Raja said.
“The first thing which hurts us was Shoaib’s remarks over the ban imposed by the ICC,” Raja said, referring to Shoaib’s one Test and two one-day match ban for using abusive language during the Lahore Test against South Africa last month.
“The other comment which hurt us was that he can become Pakistani captain whenever he wants but he doesn’t try for it,” said Raja.
Shoaib, currently training for this month’s five-match one-day series against New Zealand, has been asked to reply this week.
He will miss the first two one-day matches against New Zealand starting at Faisalabad from November 22 because of the ban.
Shoaib, known as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, has taken 107 wickets in 28 Tests and 150 wickets in 192 one-day matches since making his debut in 1997.