Australia all-rounder James Faulkner has been handed a lifetime ban from playing in the Pakistan Super League after the 31-year-old accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of not honouring a contractual agreement.
Taking to Twitter on February 19, a day before his team’s (Quetta Gladiators) final league stage game against Karachi Kings, Faulkner first apologised to Pakistan cricket fans while blaming the PCB and the PSL for their behaviour towards the all-rounder.
What was James Faulkner’s twitter post?
"I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately, I've had to withdraw from the last two matches and leave the (PSL) due to the (PCB) not honouring my contractual agreement/payments," James Faulkner tweeted.
1/2
— James Faulkner (@JamesFaulkner44) February 19, 2022
I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans.
But unfortunately I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the @thePSLt20 due to the @TheRealPCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments.
I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me.
"I've been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me. It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing.
"But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the (PCB) and (PSL). I'm sure you all understand my position," he added.
2/2
— James Faulkner (@JamesFaulkner44) February 19, 2022
It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing.
But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the @TheRealPCB and @thePSLt20
I’m sure you all understand my position.
Pakistan Cricket Board responds
Reacting to the allegations made in James Faulkner’s twitter post, PCB said they had paid 70 per cent of the contract fee to the player’s British bank account in December, the ‘receipt of which was acknowledged by Mr Faulkner’.
The remaining 30 per cent was to be paid ‘40 days after the completion of the league’, but the management has now decided to take it under consideration.
As relayed in the official statement made by the PCB and Quetta Gladiators, “in spite of the money being transferred and received in his account, Faulker continued to insist that a second duplicate payment of the same amount should be made to his account in Australia. This meant he would have been paid twice.”
Talks between the two turned into a heated argument on Friday following which the 31-year-old pulled out of a crucial game for Quetta against Multan Sultans. What followed next was an absolute catastrophe as Faulker caused deliberate damage to hotel property, throwing his bat and helmet from the lobby floor balcony onto a chandelier.
The chandelier of PC Hotel Lahore was broken by James Faulkner who threw his helmet on it in rage. Reports state he was drunk at that time. pic.twitter.com/kRbPZZdv7G
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) February 19, 2022
The 31-year-old demanded an immediate release from the league and asked the board to make travel arrangements despite the assurance that his issues will be addressed. The aftermath of this forced PCB and PSL to take immediate action, resulting in a lifetime ban from playing in the future editions of the Pakistan Super League.
"Taking serious note of James Faulkner's gross misconduct that was an attempt to bring the PCB, Pakistan cricket and the Pakistan Super League into disrepute, it has been unanimously agreed by the PCB and the franchises that James Faulkner will not be drafted in future Pakistan Super League events," the board stated.
Featured photo: AFP / Punit Paranjpe
