Jun 14 2008
Five-year-ban on Shoaib reduced to 18 months!
The Appellate tribunal has reduced the ban imposed on Pakistani pace man Shoaib Akhtar, to 18 months instead of earlier 5 years imposed on by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Rs 70 lakh was also fined on him with this ban on Saturday.
In March 2008, Shoaib was banned for five years by the disciplinary committee of the PCB for violating code of conduct. Shoaib appealed against the five-year-ban and today the decision was delivered in Lahore by the tribunal, legal counsel of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“The tribunal has taken the decision with a clear conscience and under no pressure from either the board or anyone else,” tribunal head Justice Aftab Farrukh told a news conference, adding that the three-member tribunal unanimously felt the original punishment was too harsh.
“We also took into consideration the past record of Shoaib and that he had publicly apologized for his behavior and past deeds,” Farrukh said. “He has promised to reform himself and we have also recommended to the board that he should be given proper counseling.” He added.
He was allowed to play in the Indian Premier League [Images] after the tribunal suspended his ban for one month.
The player always remains in controversies because of his short tempered nature. Many times, he became a part of such incidents for his misbehavior or for other such reasons.
Last year, he was banned for 13 international matches and fined Rs. 3.4 million ($120,300) for four breaches of discipline including striking team mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa and put on two-year probation.
Shaoib’s has played 46 tests and 138 one-day internationals and due to this ban he will miss the Asia Cup and Champions Trophy being hosted by Pakistan this year.
His lawyer Abid Hasan Minto however said that they will appeal to higher court regarding the case. “But we will take a decision after going through the long and detailed order of the tribunal,” Minto said.
