Faulkner quits Pakistan Super League in ugly payment row

Australian World Cup winner James Faulkner has abruptly left the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in a dispute over payment.

Pakistan cricket officials denied his allegations after former one-Test allrounder Faulkner announced his shock withdrawal on Twitter and have responded by banning him from future editions of their premier domestic T20 league.

The 31-year-old Tasmanian has not played the last three games with his Quetta Gladiators franchise and complained that he'd been lied to by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and that his treatment had been a "disgrace".

"I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately I've had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the (PSL) due to the (PCB) not honouring my contractual agreement/payments," Faulkner tweeted.

"I've been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me. 

"It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing.

"But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the (PCB) and (PSL). 

"I'm sure you all understand my position."

But the PCB said it had paid 70 per cent of Faulkner's contract to his British bank account and that "the receipt of this payment was acknowledged by Mr Faulkner." 

The PCB said the remaining 30 per cent is transferred to players' accounts within 40 days after the PSL ends.

The board said Faulkner's agent revised his bank information to an Australian account in January and that the player insisted that "a second duplicate payment of the same amount be made to his account in Australia".

Talks between the parties soured on Friday afternoon when Faulkner pulled out of a crucial game for Quetta against Multan and demanded that his travel arrangements be made immediately despite assurances from the board that his grievances would be addressed. 

According to the PCB, Faulkner caused deliberate damage to hotel property and acted inappropriately and abusively at the airport ahead of his flight to Australia.

"Taking serious note of James Faulkner's gross misconduct that was an attempt to bring the PCB, Pakistan cricket and the Pakistan Super League into disrepute, it has been unanimously agreed by the PCB and the franchises that James Faulkner will not be drafted in future Pakistan Super League events," the board said.

Faulkner, who took six wickets in six games for Quetta this season and scored 49 runs, had been the toast of Australian cricket back in 2015, earning player-of-the-match honours after helping win the ODI World Cup final in front of 93,013 fans at the MCG.

But he hasn't represented his country since 2017 and didn't feature in the KFC BBL this summer after a messy exit from the Hobart Hurricanes post BBL|10, with Faulkner publicly disputing claims that the club had offered him a multi-year deal and saying he had felt "disrespected" by a low-ball initial offer.

With AP.