Saqlain let off lightly for Miandad outburst

Saqlain Mushtaq escaped with only a reprimand from the Pakistan board for verbally abusing coach Javed Miandad.

Saqlain blasted Miandad on the phone after he was dropped for the recent Test series against South Africa, which Pakistan won 1-0. But Asghar Haider, a legal advisor for the board, said a disciplinary committee had decided against a severe punishment considering Saqlain later apologised.

"They have not fined or banned him," Haider said. "The committee reached the decision after Saqlain apologised to Javed Miandad for his behaviour and also to the committee members." Haider did, however, say that Tauqir Zia, the chairman, could still take further action against Saqlain if he wanted to.

Meanwhile Miandad confirmed Saqlain did say sorry to him after the incident: "He came to me and apologised for his behaviour which he says was out of sheer frustration. I have accepted his apology."

Under the Pakistan board's code of conduct, Saqlain could have been fined 50,000 rupees (£514), or a ban of three domestic matches if he were found guilty.