The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to take away the one-year ban on former skipper Shoaib Malik.

The board imposed the suspension and a fine of Rs 2 million for bad behavior in the national team's unsuccessful tour of Australia earlier this year.

But, the board yesterday asked arbitrator Irfan Qadir to lift the ban.

Qadir also decided to halve the fine on Malik.

PCB advocate Talib Rizvi said, "We (PCB) had watched Malik's attitude and conduct over the last three months and proposed that ban should be lifted."

''Malik is now free to be selected in any squad of Pakistan team, but we want the players to follow discipline in future,'' he added.

Malik, who was included in the list of 35 probables for next month's Asia Cup and twin test series against Australia and England, was happy with the PCB's verdict.

''I was shocked when they imposed the ban and it was not acceptable to me. But I am happy that I have been vindicated now. I am delighted this stigma of a ban has been removed from my name,'' Malik said.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and his younger brother Umar, who were also punished together with Malik, sent requests to Qadir yesterday for adjournments in their hearings.

Former skipper Younis Khan's plead against an indefinite ban was adjourned until June 9 to allow his laywer Mohammad Ahmed Qayyum more time to consult his client. (With Inputs from Agencies)