Malik ban lifted

Shoaib Malik is available for Pakistan's tour of England after his one-year ban from international cricket was lifted.

Former Pakistan captain free to return to international fold

Shoaib Malik is available for Pakistan's tour of England after a one-man appellate tribunal recommended his one-year ban from international cricket should be lifted. Malik, a former national team skipper, was one of seven players to be punished in March by the Pakistan Cricket Board for breaches of discipline during the winless tour of Australia. He has also had his fine halved to one million rupees (£8,1000). "Malik is now free to be selected in any Pakistan squad, but we want the players to follow discipline in future," said PCB advocate Talib Rizvi after the hearing. The selectors have already included Malik among 35 probables for the Asia Cup in June and the tour of England that runs from July to September. Along with Malik, all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was also banned for a year and fined two million rupees. Former captains Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were banned for indefinite periods, while Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal received fines. All the players with the exception of Yousuf, who announced his retirement from international cricket, have appealed against their bans and fines. Younus' appeal has been adjourned until June 5 following legal arguments.