Faulkner quits Pakistan SL in payment row

Pakistan cricket officials denied his allegations after former Test allrounder Faulkner announced his shock withdrawal on Twitter and have responded by banning him from future editions of their premier domestic Twenty20 league.

The 31-year-old Tasmanian did not play the last three games of his Quetta Gladiators franchise and complained that he'd been lied to by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and that his treatment had been a "disgrace".

"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," Faulkner tweeted.

"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 @TheRealPCB and @thePSLt20.

"I'm sure you all understand my position."

But the PCB said it had paid 70% of Faulkner's contract to his British bank account in December and that "the receipt of this payment was acknowledged by Mr. Faulkner."

The remaining 30% is transferred to players' accounts within 40 days after the PSL ends.

The board said Faulkner's agent revised his bank information to an Australian account in January and that the player insisted that "a second duplicate payment of the same amount be made to his account in Australia."

Despite Faulkner's "reprehensible and insulting behaviour" during talks on Friday, the board said, it assured the Australian that his grievances would be addressed.

Still, he pulled out of the crucial game for Quetta against Multan and demanded that his travel arrangements be made immediately.

Faulkner, according to the PCB, caused deliberate damage to hotel property and acted inappropriately and abusively at the airport ahead of his flight to Australia.

"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 said.

Faulkner, who took six wickets in six games for Quetta this season and scored 49 runs, had been the toast of Australian cricket back in 2015, earning man-of-the-match honours after helping win the ODI World Cup final in front of 93,013 fans at the MCG but he hasn't represented his country since 2017.

With AP

Australian Associated Press