ICC Cricket World Cup: Pakistan players fined for breaching curfew

Sydney: Pakistan on Thursday warned eight of their World Cup squad they face banishment from the tournament if they repeat a team curfew breach as the 1992 champions faced the first mini-crisis of the six-week event.

“Eight Pakistan players, including former captain Shahid Afridi and opener Ahmad Shehzad, were fined 300 Australian dollars (Dh847) after they came late to their Sydney hotel on Sunday,” sources in the team told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The team management, headed by manager Naveed Cheema, a former military man, claimed the players arrived 45 minutes late after a night out.

The players are understood to have apologised and have promised not to repeat the offence.

Team management have told the players that, if such a breach was repeated, they will be sent home on the first available flight.

Pakistan play their first group game against arch-rivals and title-holders India in Adelaide on Sunday.