Cricket:Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar has been banned for 13 international matches and fined 3.4 million rupees (€39,500) by the disciplinary committee of the country's cricket board for four breaches of the code of conduct.

The committee also placed the fast bowler on a two-year probation period during which if he is found guilty of violating the code of conduct he could be banned for life.

However, chairman of the committee, Shafqat Naghmi, said Shoaib's suspension would be counted from the Twenty20 World Cup held in South Africa last month, so having missed seven matches he would be banned for five more games.

Shoaib was sent back from the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa by the team management after he hit Mohammad Asif with a bat.