Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar Saturday blamed all-rounder Shahid Afridi for provoking a row that led to his ouster from the Twenty20 championship in South Africa for hitting a teammate.

The 32-year-old struck his new-ball partner Muhammad Asif with a bat during a practice session in Johannesburg on Thursday, prompting the team's management to send him back.

"I apologised to Asif and he had forgiven me, but another teammate Afridi took the matter further and it forced the management to send me back," Akhtar told a press conference in Lahore after his return from South Africa.

"The incident started with a verbal spat between me and Afridi, who used foul language, and Asif intervened and in anger I hit Asif with a bat," Akhtar said.

The incident has cast doubt over the future of his career, which has been hit by controversy and injuries.

"I am sorry for what happened and it should not have happened. I request the authorities not to ban me for a lengthy period," said Akhtar, who faces calls for a life ban after the latest in a series of controversies.

"I want to play for my country and talk of a life ban or lengthy ban is worrying. I still want to play in South Africa, but if that is not possible, I want to play for my country in near future."

Akhtar denied his expulsion could prompt him to play in the breakaway Indian league funded by the country's largest listed media group, Zee Telefilms.

"It's absurd. I have said no to the Indian league and will not go there. There is no truth in it," he said.

Pakistan Cricket Board director of operations Zakir Khan said Akhtar's replacement would be ready in time for Pakistan's opening match against Scotland at Durban on Wednesday.

"PCB has already requested the International Cricket Council to replace Akhtar with uncapped all-rounder Sohail Tanveer," he said.

Another official, Shafqat Naghmi, said Akhtar would face a disciplinary committee hearing very soon.

"Akhtar is suspended indefinitely until a disciplinary committee meeting. He is also issued a notice to explain his comments against a doping tribunal," said Naghmi. ] Akhtar last week criticised a PCB doping tribunal that banned him for two years and Asif for one year after they tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in October last year.

The bans were lifted on appeals, but Akhtar and Asif both missed the 50-over World Cup held in the Caribbean earlier this year.

Akhtar was also on a six-week probation after he left a training camp in Karachi without informing team manager Talat Ali last month. He was fined 300,000 rupees (5,000 US dollars), which was later suspended on appeal.

The latest breach, however, renewed the case, and he is likely to face heavy fines and punishment.

Akhtar said he would attend a disciplinary hearing whenever it was convened.

"I will face the disciplinary action, but I ask that they forgive me so that I can play and (I will) never do such a thing again."

President General Pervez Musharraf, who is patron-in-chief of the PCB, reportedly directed the cricket authorities to take strict action against Akhtar.

"President Musharraf directed PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf to take strict action against Akhtar as the quarrel between him and Asif gave a bad name to Pakistan," private channel Geo reported.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)