LAHORE, Jan 20: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refused to comment on a reported exchange of hot words between paceman Shoaib Akhtar and coach Bob Woolmer prior to the start of the second day’s play of the second Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

A PCB spokesman, however, confirmed that team manager Talat Ali will be holding a hearing after the day's play to find out the truth and the board will only issue a statement after that.

The spokesman added that Talat, a former Test opener, had summoned both Shoaib and Woolmer for the hearing. Leading TV channels of the country also reported the incident.

The spokesman also said that Shoaib suffered from a niggling hamstring problem earlier in the day and, therefore did not take the field in the South Africa’s second innings.

"Shoaib is going through some medical tests at the moment and the nature of the injury will only be determined after getting the medical reports,” the spokesman said. “It is premature to say how many days will the pacer require to recover because the reports have not come yet."

Shoaib, on Friday, made a triumphant return to Test cricket by capturing 4-36 in South Africa’s first innings and bowled the hosts out for a paltry 124. His performance was hailed by all quarters but he is, apparently, facing disciplinary action now.

Opinion

Editorial

Successful summit
Updated 17 Oct, 2024

Successful summit

Platforms like SCO present an opportunity for states to set aside narrow differences.
Failed tax target
17 Oct, 2024

Failed tax target

THE government’s plan to document retailers for tax purposes through its ‘voluntary’ Tajir Dost Scheme appears...
More questions
17 Oct, 2024

More questions

THE alleged rape of a student at a private college in Lahore has sparked confusion, social media campaigns, ...
Two steps back
Updated 16 Oct, 2024

Two steps back

Instead of treating polio as a stand-alone emergency, it should be incorporated into a broader public health strategy.
Defunding varsities
16 Oct, 2024

Defunding varsities

IF a plan — apparently conjured up by foreign lenders — to defund public varsities goes ahead, tens of thousands...
Protecting children
16 Oct, 2024

Protecting children

THIS country’s children make the news for unfortunate reasons. At the core of their plight is the state’s...