PCB lifts all-rounder Hamza Nazar's two-year ban after two months

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lifted the two-year suspension on all-rounder Hamza Nazar, just two months after it was imposed. The decision clears him to return to competitive cricket.

The board announced the ban on August 6. It suspended Hamza from all domestic and international cricket for two years and fined him Rs1 million. The action was taken for providing incorrect and misleading information during a visa application process through the PCB.

Before the penalty was announced, a three-member inquiry committee formed by the PCB looked into the matter. It reviewed evidence, heard Hamza's defence and submitted its recommendations. The committee found that he had failed to provide complete and accurate information, submitted misleading details and concealed important facts.

Hamza later admitted his mistake, expressed regret and asked the board to review his punishment. According to ProPakistani, he told the board that cricket was his livelihood and asked not to be deprived of the chance to continue his career.

The PCB accepted his appeal and lifted the ban. It advised him to be more cautious in future.

Hamza has been included in Sialkot's squad for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He is training at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore as he prepares to return to domestic cricket.

The visa controversy had affected his chances of representing Pakistan on the tours of the West Indies and England, and had ruled him out of contention for the squads for those tours, The Express Tribune reported.

In 16 first-class matches, Hamza has scored 748 runs and taken 26 wickets.