Shoaib Akhtar, who faces a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, has been cleared by Pakistan team manager Haroon Rashid for off-field disciplinary charges levelled against him during the team's recent tour of Australia.
Haroon, who was the team manager during the tour, submitted his report to the Pakistan Cricket Board in which he has given his comments on Shoaib's behaviour on the tour and separately also to the inquiry committee constituted by PCB to probe into charges that he violated four clauses of his central contract.
The inquiry committee specifically asked Haroon for his comments on Shoaib.
The fast bowler has been charged with visiting nightclubs, giving press statements without permission and reporting late to the Board after returning from Australia.
Haroon sent a letter to the inquiry committee outlining clearly that except for one occasion when Shoaib was fined for coming late to a practice session, he had not been involved in any other act of indiscipline in Australia, local daily The News reported on Wednesday.
"As far as I am concerned Shoaib was prompt in attending all team meetings, he followed the team dress code, attended all team dinners and official receptions," Haroon was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
"There was no case of him being involved in any misbehaviour off the field."
"As far as my domain is concerned, there were no problems with any player. But if there were instances of Shoaib not bowling in the nets or not taking part in some training session, that comes under the preview of the captain and coach and not the manager," Haroon said.
The inquiry committee, which includes PCB Director Media, Abbas Zaidi, legal advisor Syed Asghar Haider and former Test player Imtiaz Ahmed, has now referred Shoaib's case to the board's disciplinary committee which meets on Thursday for a hearing with the fast bowler.
Justice Amir Alam Khan heads the PCB disciplinary committee, which also includes Abdul Salam Khawar, Maqbool Ellahi and Asghar Haider. The disciplinary committee is expected to give a verdict on the charges against Shoaib before the national selectors meet on Saturday to announce the touring squad for India.
The paper reported that Haroon, in his tour report, has dealt extensively with the behaviour and attitude of each player, the fitness problems with the players and the overall potential of each player and his value to Pakistan cricket.
He has also submitted his tour accounts to the Board, which is, however, waiting for a tour report from coach Bob Woolmer.
