PCB Allows Shoaib Akhtar in T20!

Based on the court directions, PCB has allowed Shoaib Akhtar to play in the T20 tournament even though he did not pay the fine money of Rs.70 million.

His ban was revoked, but Shoaib was asked to pay Rs.70 million as fine to PCB. Only after his payment, he will be allowed to play for Pakistan, said PCB.

Shoaib moved the court again and court asked PCB to allow him to play the T20. So, until the court hearing, he will be allowed to play at the national level.

Shoabit has to Pay the fine of Rs.70M to play for Pak: PCB

The PCB has come out open and strongly said that, Shoaib Akhtar has to pay 70 million rupees as fine to ensure that he plays for Pakistan again. He was banned for life by PCB in a major controversy. He came out openly and criticised the PCB on their selection and other policies. He questioned why he was not in the contracted players list.

His punishement of life ban was then reduced to 5 years. He went to court against the 5 year ban and got the verdict in favor of him. The ban was suspended pending complete enquiry.

Though the ban suspended by the court, the PCB is not ready to mend on the fine imposed. They want him to pay 70 million rupees for getting a play in the team for champions trophy!

Will he pay or go to court again? Or the PCB will make an U-Turn again?

Pakistan Court Asks the reason for Akhtar's Ban!

Akhtar appealed against his reduced ban in the Pakistan court. His ban was reduced from life ban to 18 months ban and 70 million rupees fine. Though it was reduced, it still did not allow him to play in the Tri-Series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup. It will also prevent him from playing in Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan.

He appelad aganist this reduced ban in the court and the judge has said that, "Shoaib Akhtar is hero of the Pakistan." He also asked the PCB the reason for imposing the ban on Shoaib.

Now the ball is in PCB's court to provide proper justification for his ban. It is almost sure that he will come out of this ban and play for Pakistan soon.

Good luck Shoaib!

Akhtar May Appeal Again!

Shoaib Akhtar has said that he may file for an appeal after going through the judgment given by the Appellate Tribunal.

Earlier, he was banned for life by the PCB and he appealed against it. The panel reduced the ban to 18 months and imposed a fine a Rs.70 million.

He said that his lawyer is going through the judgment and may appeal against the reduced ban.

If this ban stays, he will not be playing the Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy.

PCB Unhappy with Pakistan Team!

The letter sent by PCB chairm Ashraf has clearly stated that the PCB is not happy with the performance of the team against India. The letter said that the defeat of 140 runs is a devastating defeat and should have never happened.

It questioned the committement, fire, dedication of the captain, coach and other team players.

They wanted the team to improve the performance in the next match.

Shoaib Banned for 18 Months and Fined Rs.70 M!

The Appellate Tribunal set up by Pakistan Cricket Board to hear the appeal by Pakistan Fast Bowler's agasint the life ban imposed by PCB. The appellate tribunal heard Shoaib Akhtar's version and then reduce the life ban to 18 months ban and also imposed a huge fine of Rs. 70 million.

Read: PCB Softens Stand on Shoaib

Read: Shoaib Akhtar Can Play in IPL!

Read: Akhtar to Appeal against Ban

Asif Detained in Dubai!

Mohammad Asif of Pakistan is in trouble again. He was detained and arrested for possessing drugs. He was caught in the Dubai airport while going back from India after playing in the IPL (Indian Premier League).

If he is found guilty, he would be banned for life as far as cricket is concerned and go to jail for four years. "The person concerned has been handed over to the drugs unit of the Dubai police," an airport customs official told IANS earlier Tuesday."

As per Geo TV, the Pakistan television channel, Asif, the Pakistan Contracted Player, had confessed to possessing narcotic substances.

The PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi, who confirmed the arrest, told IANS from Lahore: "We are in touch with the authorities in the UAE through our embassy."

There are different versions to the story:

1) Asif slapped an airport official, they searched him and found an ayurvedic medicine, which Asif claims as a energy boosting medicine, which was termed as drug.
2) He was trapped by a sniffer dog in the transit lounge
3) He had confessed that he used drugs

If he is found guilty, he would face a four-year jail term, ban from cricket including IPL.

Asif was banned for a year and his team-mate Shoaib Akhtar for two years after they tested positive for the steroid Nandrolone in October 2006. The ban was removed on appeal two months later

PCB softens stand on Shoaib! Drops Defamation Case!

The PCB has softened its stand against Shoaib and withdrawn the defamation case filed against him for 22 crores by Nasim Ashraf.

Shoaib should be a relieved man having things started going in his way.

He was successful in suspending the ban for a month to allow him to play in the IPL;
He was successful in the defamation case through his apology. A sorry or apology can do wonders, if you sacrifice your ego and ask for forgiveness.

It looks like Shoaib Akhtar has tendered an open public apology to Nasim Ashraf and the board. Based on the public apology and the recommendation from the Prime Minister office, the PCB has decided to withdraw the case against him.

But, his case in the appellate Tribunal will continue as it is on June 4. He was banned for speaking openly critizing PCB on its policies including his contract, domestic tournaments and general administration.

Akhtar should be a relieved man with only one battle pending in the court to remove his ban. Let us see whether he comes clean on that as well, which is crucial for his career. Otherwise, these suspension of the ban and withdrawl of defamation suit are only temporary relief and happiness!

Shoaib Akhtar can play in IPL!

Shoaib Akhtar's ban has been suspended for a month and hence he becomes eligible for playing in IPL.

The appellate tribunal decided to suspend the five year ban imposed on Shoaib Akhtar for a month, that is, till June 4 when the next meeting will happen. The PCB also has issues a "No Objection Certificate" to enable him to feature in the IPL.

Lalit Modi, the chairman and commissioner of the IPL, confirmed that Shoaib will play the tournament. "We look forward to Shoaib playing for us," Modi said. "I am going to call him immediately and invite him to come to Kolkata tonight or tomorrow morning."

The tribunal announced the decision today. They said: "We have suspended the ban for one month and the next hearing will be held on June 4." They further said, "Had we not suspended the ban, he could not have been played the in IPL, which we thought was injustice to Akhtar."

Shoaib looked relieved. He said, "This is a great relief for me as I am keen to play in the IPL," Shoaib said. "But this is just one battle won and we still have to win the final case."

The relief came after Shoaib's lawyers presses for the suspension of his ban.

In addition to the ban, Shoaib is also facing a defamation suit for Rs. 22 crore filed by PCB chief Nasim Ashraf.

He was banned after speaking openly about the contract he was not provided with by PCB, the pitches, domestic tournaments, and administration in general. He made this comment during his probabtion period of two years for hitting his mate Mohammad Asif with the bat before the T20 world cup last year.

BCCI Rejected Akhtar's Claim!

The request from Akhtar to play in the current IPL has been rejected by BCCI. They have barred him from IPL.

He was banned for 5 years, which means he cannot represent Pakistan anymore. He was banned for criticising openly about PCB policies.

Shoaib to be questioned by ICC.

The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of ICC to be questioned by ICC is the unofficial news. Already couple of officers are in Pakistan to question him.

Shoaib mentioned that he was approached by match-fixing brokers during the tours of South Africa and India.

Earlier a local channel here reported that an ACU official was in Lahore to probe the claims made by Akhtar.

The ICC has officially said that its officers would talk to Akhtar for his statements on a television show that he was offered money to under-perform in matches on several occasions but he turned them down.

ICC Code of Conduct states that any player who fails to report an approach to fix games or under-perform to his captain, team manager, board or ACU officers may face a minimum ban of one year and maximum of five years.

Akhtar never reported these approaches to any team official, the board or ACU officers.

Shoait Cannot Play in IPL

Based on Pakistan Cricket Board's decision of banning the Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for five years, the Indian Premier League committee also said that, Shoaib cannot play in the IPL.

He was banned for five years as a disciplinary measure for speaking against the Pakistan Cricket Board's policies. He was also not happy for not providing him a contract.

Mr. Bindra, a member of the IPL governing body during his interview to an online media said that, "if he can't play for Pakistan, how can we play him? There will be no discipine left in the game and it will set an unwanted precedent."

Kolkatta Knight Riders spokesperson confirmed that they have received a communication about Shoaib's situation and he should not be included in the team until he is cleared or the ban is stayed.

Meanwhile, the owner of Knight Riders Sharukh Khan said that "he can hire another player, but he wanted Shoiab Akthtar."

PCB Chairman files Suit against Shoaib Akhtar

Based on the statement by Shoaib Akhtar in a television interview against the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Nasim Ashraf, that he was trying extract money from him and the players. Shoaib, though did not go against chairman in most of his interview, his recent interveiw added as a fuel to the existing controversy.

He said that the ban was a punishment in return for refusing to give the chairman a share of his salary from the Indian Premiere League. He also charged Ashraf against trying to get money from other Pakistan players.

The notice was issued by the board's legal firm on behalf of Ashraf who said the statements by Shoaib were "not only utterly outrageous, fabricated, and manifestly baseless" and aimed at asssinating his character.

The notice called upon Shoaib to "retract" his statements against Ashraf, and "tender an unconditional apology". The notice also sought damages of Rs100 million (approximately US$1.6 million) to Ashraf for "defaming him personally" and another Rs100 million to the PCB for "sullying the name of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket team."

Akhtar to Appeal agaisnt the Ban!

Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akthar has said that he will be appeal in the court against the ban imposed on him couple of days back. He was banned for speaking against PCB.

He said that he is innocent and has apologized already for all his mistakes. He is also not a contracted player with the PCB and there is no reason why he should answer PCB. He does not follow in the code and conduct rules and regulagations.

Shoaib was banned for comments he made after not being offered a contract by the PCB, in which he lashed out at domestic tournaments, pitches and the administration. He was already in probation following a dispute with Asif and for hitting him with bat.

Akhtar said that he was deeply disappointed and hurt and he would go to court and fight against the ban. He said that he was demoted from central contract 'A' category, which was very hurtful and as a reaction he said something. He said that he still wants to play for his country.

Shoaib has been plagued by injury and controversy since he began his international career in November 1997. He was twice sidelined over throwing allegations and was also banned for a breach of code on tour and ball-tampering.


We have to wait and see whether he will be successful in his appeal against the ban and the fight with the Pakistan Cricket Board.