KARACHI, Oct 9, (Agencies): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lifted a 12-month ban and halved a fine on all-rounder Rana Naved. Naved was among seven players banned or fined by the PCB after a shambolic tour to Australia earlier this year, on the grounds of misconduct and indiscipline. “It is a great relief to finally be cleared of this ban and now I just want to focus on cricket,” Naved told reporters in Lahore after a hearing of the appellate tribunal of the board. Naved, 32, said he was always confident he would be cleared and now his main aim would be to make a comeback to the national team. “These punishments were a dark chapter of my cricket career and I want to get over it and from tomorrow I will play domestic cricket and show my form,” he said.

The appellate tribunal also reduced a fine of two million rupees ($23,242) to half that amount.
Talib Rizvi, legal advisor to the PCB, said appeals judge Irfan Qadir had lifted the ban as Naved had apologized for his conduct and served six months of the suspension.
“He is now free to be considered for national selection,” Rizvi said.
Meanwhile, former players and selectors on Saturday criticised ex-captain Younis Khan’s continued omission from Pakistan squads, terming it an “injustice” and “loss” to the national team.
The 32-year-old was omitted from both the limited overs and Test squads against South Africa announced in the last two days, despite the lifting in June of an indefinite ban imposed on him.
Younis was among seven players banned and fined following Pakistan’s winless tour of Australia, which was marred by disciplinary problems.

Pakistan’s chief selector Mohsin Khan said Younis had not been given clearance by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt, who wanted the player to contact him.
Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim criticised the PCB for targetting Younis.
“Younis’ omission is a case of ego problem,” Qasim told AFP. “Not selecting him despite his ban (being) overturned is (an) injustice and is definitely a loss to the team.”
Younis relinquished the captaincy in November last year after falling out with some team-mates. He was recalled for the one-day series in Australia earlier this year before being banned.
He was also overlooked for the tour of England, where Pakistan levelled a two-Test series against Australia 1-1 but went down 3-1 against England in Tests and 2-3 in one-day internationals.
Qasim lashed out at recalled batsman Misbah-ul-Haq’s appointment as Test captain.

“This can only happen in Pakistan that a player who was not in the team is given the captaincy besides being recalled after a break,” said Qasim of Misbah, who was dropped from the Test team following the tour of Australia.
Another former chief selector, Abdul Qadir, urged the PCB and Younis to resolve their differences.
“I hope... the two parties, PCB or Younis, show flexibility and solve their differences, which will help the player to stage a comeback and help the team which needs him,” Qadir told AFP.
Qadir questioned Misbah’s recall and appointment as captain.
“Why did they drop Misbah if he was able enough to lead the team,” said Qadir, a master leg-spinner in his day. “But since there are previous examples of players appointed captains from nowhere, we will have to accept it.”
Qadir termed the limited overs squad a “veteran eleven.”
“With ageing players like Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar and Misbah, the Twenty20 and one-day squad is full of veterans,” said Qadir.
Former captain Aamir Sohail said Younis’s omission was a loss.
“I think Younis has some issues with the PCB chairman and that’s been a problem in his selection and it’s harming the team’s cause,” said Sohail, also a former chief selector.