The PCB said that it thought the matter to have been resolved amicably after Sarfaraz apologised to Proteas all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.

Sarfaraz was Sunday suspended for four matches by the International Cricket Council for his racist comments against Andile Phehlukwayo during the second one-dayer on January 22. After the ICC announced its decision, the PCB issued a statement expressing surprise at the ban imposed of Sarfaraz. “The PCB notes the ICC decision on Sarfaraz Ahmed with its utmost disappointment. PCB had anticipated that the matter had been resolved amicably between the two players and the two Boards following Sarafraz Ahmed’s public apologies, which were accepted by the player, the Board and South Africa cricket team,” the statement said.

The PCB will be pursuing this matter at the ICC forums with the objective to bring reforms to the Code, promoting amicable resolutions to issues as opposed to penalties. Having said that, the PCB reiterates its zero-tolerance approach towards racist comments and behavior,” it said.

Shoaib Malik will captain the team for the remaining ODIs and T20 internationals while Mohammad Rizwan has been included in the T20I side. A PCB source said that the Board was unaware that Sarfaraz would be suspended for four matches when it named him on Saturday to lead the team in the T20 series in South Africa, beginning on February 6.

The source also said that the ICC had considered an eight-match ban but took into account his prompt apology and the report of the match referee Ranjan Madugalle.

According to media reports, Pakistan’s chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and South African players Hashim Amla and Imran Tahir had played major roles in diffusing the situation. Inzamam, who is in South Africa watching the one-day series with the World Cup in mind, used his friendship with Amla and Tahir to diffuse the situation.