James Faulkner: A stain on a gentlemen's game

• Reports confirm Faulkner's errant behaviour for which he has been censured multiple times in the past.
• PCB bans Faulkner from PSL for life due to his "inappropriate behaviour" during stay in Pakistan.
• Faulkner had alleged that the PCB did not fulfil its contractual obligation.

Following Aussie cricketer James Faulkner's "false" allegations against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), more details have emerged confirming his errant behaviour for which he has been censured multiple times in the past, Geo News reported on Monday.

Faulkner, who was representing Quetta Gladiators in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), had alleged on Saturday that the PCB did not fulfil its contractual obligation.

Afterwards, the PCB and his PSL franchise Quetta Gladiators issued a joint statement sharing all the details about payments and announced to ban Faulkner from the league for life due to his "inappropriate behaviour" during his stay in Pakistan.

James later fired his Australian agent, saying that he had paid him less for the contract with the PCB.

More reports have come out in this regard, endorsing the PCB's stance over the player's conduct.

Read more: Shoaib Akhtar reacts to James Faulkner's unpleasant exit from PSL 2022

Per details, Faulkner made hateful remarks about the West Indies team in the past. “I don’t particularly like them. Nobody in particular,” he had said in 2014 after which he faced severe criticism.

Faulkner was also fined £10,000 for driving under the influence of alcohol during county cricket in England.

He had also complained of low pay from his team Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League last year.

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi had also expressed his disappointment over Faulkner's allegations and abrupt withdrawal from the Pakistan Super League's seventh edition.

"Disappointed with James Faulkner's comments who reciprocated Pakistan's hospitality and arrangements by levelling baseless allegations," Afridi, who was Faulkner's teammate in the Quetta Gladiators for PSL 7, wrote on Twitter.

"We al[l] have been treated with respect and never ever our payments have been delayed. No one should be allowed to taint Pakistan cricket and the PSL brand," Afridi added.

Meanwhiile, Shoaib Akhtar also took exception to Australian all-rounder Faulkner's unpleasant exit from the ongoing Pakistan Super (PSL) 2022, saying that the "foolish behaviour" should be dealt with justly.

"Quetta Gladiators made you a part of its family despite your expulsion from [the Australian Big Bash League's] Hobart Hurricanes but you ruined all of it by misbehaving," AKhtar lashed out at him in a video message realeased on his official Instagram account.

“Faulkner did very wrong. Such things are very important for the dignity and honour of the country,” former national cricket team captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has said after the whole controversy.

A brief summary of some of the undisputed facts

The PCB, in its statement, shared all the details about the contract signed with the Australian cricketer and his behaviour due to which the board had to pay compensation to a hotel where the teams are staying in Lahore.

• In December 2021, Faulkner’s agent confirmed the offshore United Kingdom bank details to which his fee payments should be transferred. This was noted for action.
• In January 2022, for reasons best known to Faulkner, his agent sent revised banking details of Faulkner’s onshore account in Australia. However, the contracted 70% of Faulkner’s fee payment was transferred to his offshore UK bank account. The receipt of this payment was acknowledged by Faulkner.
• Accordingly, payments due to Faulkner as per his contract are fully up to date.
• The remaining 30% of his contractual payment only becomes due 40 days after the completion of the Pakistan Super League 2022, which now remains a matter to be reviewed in line with his contract.
• Despite the money being transferred and received in his account, Faulkner continued to insist that a second duplicate payment of the same amount be made to his account in Australia. This meant Faulkner would have been paid twice.
• He further threatened and refused to participate in his side’s match against Multan Sultans on Friday afternoon until his money demands were met.
• The PCB, as a responsible organisation, engaged with Faulkner early Friday afternoon in an attempt to reason with him. Despite his reprehensible and insulting behaviour during the conversation, Faulkner was assured that all his grievances would be addressed. He refused to reconsider his decision to take the field in a crucial match for his side, let his team down and demanded that his travel arrangements be immediately made.
• During this time, the PCB was also in constant contact with his agent, who was regretful and apologetic.
• Before his departure on Saturday morning, Faulkner caused deliberate damage to the hotel property and as a result, had to pay damages to the hotel management. The PCB later also received reports and complaints from the immigration authorities that Faulkner had acted inappropriately and abusively at the airport.