Shoaib Akhtar's ban continues; PCB to hold another hearing in June
30 Apr 2008, 1914 Hrs

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Lahore, Apr 30 (ANI): A Pakistan Cricket Board appointed tribunal today rejected fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's appeal to end a five-year ban imposed on him.

PCB tribunal head, Justice (Retired) Aftab Farrukh said: "The main hearing into Akthar's appeal against the ban would take place in June and that the ban on playing in or for Pakistan would stay in place until then."

"We have seen Shoaib's track record and believe that he has not learnt any lesson. He flouted the board's discipline, he harmed the chairman of the board and fellow cricketers and above all the sentiments of the nation," Justice Farrukh added.

Although the PCB permitted Shoaib to play in the Indian Premier League, an IPL spokesperson told reporters that their position of not allowing him to take part in the tournament "remains the same" as of now.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Kolkata Knight Riders said, "We had bought Shoaib for US 425,000 dollars, but we will abide by the IPL stand."

Shoaib is left with one option to go for the rebel Indian Cricket League.

ICL Business Head Himanshu Mody, however, said: "Our league does not fall under the Indian board - and has an all- Pakistan team in its Twenty20 tournament. However, the ICL was not in talks with Shoaib."

The tribunal's decision came a day after Shoaib apologised to PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf.

Akhtar was suspended on April 1 for repeated disciplinary violations and for criticizing the board policies when the new central contracts were announced in January.

Later, he filed his appeal with his lawyers, saying the ban was illegal and unconstitutional.

Shoaib was already on two years' probation for hitting Mohammad Asif with a bat before the start of the World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007. That offence saw him fined 3.4 million rupees (52,000 dollars) and banned for 13 matches. (ANI)