Cricket:Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar has been sent home from the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa after a bust up with team mate Mohammad Asif.
The incident, described as a "shameful episode" by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, occurred in the nets on Thursday when a heated argument led to the 32-year-old Akhtar striking his fellow fast bowler on the thigh with a bat.
"A decision has been taken to call back Shoaib on the basis of an initial inquiry by the touring team management," PCB chief executive Shafqat Naghmi said.
Naghmi added that a full inquiry would be held when Akhtar returned to Pakistan.
Akhtar has a history of run-ins with players and officials and has been reprimanded on several occasions.
He has taken 169 test and 208 one-day international wickets.
Pakistan play their first Twenty20 World Cup match against Group D rivals Scotland in Durban on Wednesday.
No decision has yet been taken on a replacement for Akhtar, which is allowed under tournament rules, but a PCB source said paceman Mohammad Sami was being lined up.