Rediff

Islamabad, Sep 7: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been recalled from the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa after a bust up with team mate Mohammad Asif.

"A decision has been taken to call back Shoaib on the basis of an initial inquiry by the touring team management in South Africa," Shafqat Nagmi, chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, told Reuters on Friday.

The incident took place on Thursday in the team's nets. A team source said a heated argument between the two led to Shoaib striking Asif on the thigh with a bat

A team source said that during a heated argument between the two players in the nets at their camp in Benoni, Akhtar had struck Asif on his thigh with a bat.

"It developed into a serious altercation and got out of control before the captain, manager and coach intervened," said the source, who declined to be identified.

Pakistan, who arrived in Johannesburg from Nairobi on Thursday after winning a four-nation tournament, are in Group D of the Twenty20 World Cup alongside India and Scotland.