Pakistan's Younis escapes ban over umpiring row

KARACHI — Senior Pakistan batsman and former national captain Younis Khan Monday escaped a three-match ban after apologizing for a row with umpires in a domestic one-day tournament. Younis, 38, was fined 50 percent of his match fee and faced a ban for not attending the disciplinary hearing and withdrawing from the tournament. He apologized for his behavior in a call with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan. A PCB news release confirmed the phone call and apology. Younis was angry at several umpiring decisions in his team's two matches, but denied misbehaving toward the umpires. "I had objected to a no-ball which was above chest height and that's all," Younis told a private Pakistani TV channel. "I have given assurances that I will play the remaining matches so the matter ends here." Younis is Pakistan's highest Test run-scorer, with 9,116 runs in 104 Tests. Mumbai back on track Parthiv Patel hit a breezy 58-ball 81 to power Mumbai Indians to a 25-run win over Kings XI Punjab whose campaign turned from bad to worse in the Indian Premier League in Mumbai Monday. Chasing a target of 190, Punjab was restricted to 164 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs. This was Mumbai Indians' third win in seven outings, while the Punjab franchise suffered its fifth defeat in six appearances. Invited to bat, Mumbai rode on Patel's knock, his best in IPL, and Ambati Rayudu's 65 off 37 balls to record its highest score against Punjab. For Punjab, Glenn Maxwell finally found form as he top scored with 56 off 39 balls, hitting five boundaries and a six. Shaun Marsh made 45 off 34 balls with the help of three fours and a six. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of Mumbai bowlers, returning impressive figures of 3-26. Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 189 for 6 (Parthiv 81, Rayudu 65; Mohit 3-38) beat Kings XI Punjab 164 for 7 (Maxwell 56; Bumrah 3-26) by 25 runs.