FORMER England spinner Robert Croft has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan's Shahid Afridi for deliberately scuffing the wicket in the second Test in Faisalabad yesterday.

Afridi was captured on camera roughing up one of the ends with his foot during a stoppage of play in the evening session and has been banned for one Test and two one-day internationals.

Play was halted during England's first innings when a soft drinks gas cylinder exploded at the side of the pitch. Afridi then apparently took the opportunity to exacerbate some of the bowlers' footmarks as ground security assessed the situation.

The intention of such an act would have been to try to increase the advantage he and team-mate Danish Kaneria would have when bowling leg-spin into the rough.

"He was just a silly, silly boy," blasted Croft. "It's sneaky, it's stupid and it's wrong.

"I just think it goes totally against everything within the game. It is a gentleman's sport, we go out there and play hard but you have to play within the rules.

"If you take things into your own hands like that you deserve everything that comes towards you and, to be honest, I'll be very surprised if (Pakistan coach) Bob Woolmer doesn't fine Shahid as well."

Umpire Darrell Hair later noticed the difference in the area, as did England batsman Marcus Trescothick when they prepared to resume play.

Afridi was found guilty of a level three breach of the International Cricket Council's code of conduct, which refers to conduct against the spirit of the game.

Meanwhile, Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of a breach of the ICC's logo policy.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to the level one offence, which related to logos around the wristbands of his gloves.