ICC bans Afghan wicketkeeper Shahzad for two matches

HARARE, Mar 8 (AFP): Big-hitting Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad has been suspended for two matches, just three months after returning from a one-year doping ban, the ICC announced on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old slammed his bat against the pitch next to the main wicket after being dismissed for 24 in Afghanistan's two-run defeat by Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

Shahzad reached four demerit points over the last two years after being found guilty of "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings" by cricket's governing body.

The opening batsman will now miss Afghanistan's next two Group B matches against Hong Kong on Thursday and Nepal on Saturday.

It is a big blow for the Rashid Khan-led side, who were expected to qualify for next year's tournament in England and Wales, but now look set to miss out after consecutive losses to Scotland and hosts Zimbabwe.

Shahzad only returned to action last December after serving a ban for taking a weight-loss product.

Teenage leg-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and given three demerit points for throwing the ball "in a dangerous manner" towards Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylorn in Tuesday's game.