PCB moves court on Shoaib availability

The PCB has moved the Lahore High Court on whether it can allow Shoaib Akhtar to play in the domestic T20 tournament.





The PCB wants to know if the controversial pacer can be allowed to play if he delays the payment of a fine of a heavy fine.The
PCB legal counsel confirmed they have submitted an application with the
Lahore High Court, which will hear a writ petition filed by Shoaib
against his 18-months ban and fine imposed on him by an appellate
tribunal of the Board.Tafazzul Rizvi said the Board had asked
him to get a court advice on the payment of fine as the legal notice
sent to Shoaib clearly states that he can't play for Pakistan and
anywhere in Pakistan without first paying the fine."We will act now after getting advice from the court," Rizvi said.The
fast bowler had a five-year ban imposed on him by the PCB's
disciplinary committee reduced to 18 months by the appellate tribunal
in June which heard his appeal against the ban for disciplinary
violations.But the tribunal while reducing the ban asked him to pay the fine of seven million rupees.Shoaib
has filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court against the ban and
fine but the court while suspending the ban have given no order on the
payment of fine.The court last week adjourned a hearing into Shoaib's appeal which will now be heard at a later date.Shoaib
is presently playing for English county Surrey but has been dropped
from their one-day squad raising fresh doubts over his fitness and form.Although
Islamabad have included Shoaib's name in their list of players for the
Twenty20 competition starting from October 4, Rizvi reiterated Board's
stand that he can only play if he pays the fine or gets a clear order
from the court about it. Bilal Minto, the lawyer for Shoaib said they
had no problems paying the fine but would wait for the Court's order.

"There
is no problem with paying the fine but we feel that since the case is
in court we can wait for the court to reach a decision and than if it
says pay the fine we will pay it. It is not a real issue," he said.

Shoaib's
fitness is also under scrutiny with sources within the board confirming
that the national selectors want him to play in the Twenty20 domestic
event so that they can judge his fitness and form.

"The
selectors are edgy about his fitness and they now want him to play in
Pakistan which is why the Board is also having second thoughts about
their rigid stand on his paying the fine first to be eligible to play
for Pakistan or anywhere in Pakistan," the source said.