I stand vindicated: Shoaib Malik

8220;I am very happy that with the blessings of Allah,my stand has been vindicated and all the baseless charges and allegations have been quashed,8221; he said in a statement.

Malik was charged with indiscipline and punished by PCB enquiry committee,which probed into the team8217;s disastrous Australian tour early this year.

The committee had handed out punishments to seven Pakistani players and barring Mohammed Yousuf,all appealed against the decision.

Malik said he was ready to get back to national team.

8220;As always,my commitment for the country and for my team continues to be 100 per cent. I look forward to focusing purely on my game and will be delighted to serve my country in whatever capacity my team needs me,as and when required,8221; said Malik who is here after his marriage with Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.

Malik has been included among the 35-man probables for next month8217;s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and PCB will soon announce the team.

PCB arbitrator lifts 1-year ban on Shoaib Malik

A Pakistan Cricket Board-appointed appeals judge on Saturday lifted the one-year ban on former captain Shoaib Malik,saying the all-rounder,accused of being a 8220;negative influence8221; in the past,is a changed man now.

Former High Court judge Irfan Qadir8217;s decision came at the National Cricket Academy where he held his hearing in which Malik was represented by his lawyer.

The judge also reduced a fine on Malik from Rs two million to Rs one million.

8220;The board8217;s legal advisor has reported to me that after monitoring Malik in the last three months they feel he has improved his behavior and attitude,8221; Qadir told reporters.

8220;I have decided to uphold his appeal and lift the ban as the purpose of disciplinary action against players was to make them rethink about their careers,8221; he said.

Malik,who is in Dubai after his marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza,hailed the Qadir8217;s decision,saying the ban was a slur on his career.

8220;The purpose of my appealing to the board was to clear this stigma against my name. The ban was a stigma for me and my family,8221; Malik told 8216;Geo News8217;.

The PCB had banned Malik and all-rounder Rana Naved for 12 months and fined them Rs two million each in March for indiscipline on the tour of Australia.

The board also banned former captains Muhammad Yousuf and Younus Khan for indefinite periods and fined Shahid Afridi,Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal on the recommendations of an inquiry committee report into the tour in March.

Leaked video recordings of the hearings revealed that most of the players including captain Shahid Afridi,former coach Intikhab Alam and manager Abdul Raquib blamed Malik for fanning intrigues and creating disharmony in the team.

PCB legal advisor Talib Rizvi said the ban was lifted because the board wanted these players to represent the country again after they reformed themselves.

The national selectors have included Malik and Younus in a list of 35 probables for the next month8217;s Asia Cup and tour to England.

Rizvi said Malik is free to represent the country again.

The judge had also scheduled a hearing for Younus Khan whose lawyer Ahmed Qayyum was present at the hearing but could not give a decision after Qayyum refused to accept a decision behind closed doors and wanted the media to attend the proceedings.

Rizvi said the appeals judge has now scheduled the hearing for Younus on June 12 while the appeals of Afridi and the Akmal brothers would be heard on June 9.

The appeal of Rana Naved is due to be heard on June 19 but he is not included in the list of probables for the coming tournaments.