Latest: Shoaib Akhtar cannot play for Kolkata Knight Riders, PCB gets tough
Update: Shoaib Akhtar cannot play in IPL. Rediff reports:
The IPL’s Governing Council Chairman Lalit Modi told reporters that Akhtar cannot take part in the high-profile Twenty20 competition till the Pakistan Cricket Board lifts the ban on him.
Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar ifnds some support from Shah Rukh Khan:
“We believe Shoaib should play. It is a sad incident that Shoaib has been banned from IPL as well. We will talk to IPL authorities.
The Shah Rukh Khan-owned IPL Team Kolkata Knight Riders can now relax. Though the Pakistan Cricket Board has imposed a five-year ban on the Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar from playing international cricket, he has been cleared for the multi-million dollar Twenty20 IPL League.
The Board of Cricket Control of India Vice President and Chairman of Indian Premier League Lalit Modi on Wednesday said the Pakistan fast bowler could participate in the Twenty20 IPL match despite the PCB ban. Signalling what could be the end of Shoib Akhtar’s international career, the Pakistan Cricket Board had on Thursday served a five-year ban for his repeated indiscipline.
The PCB imposed the ban on Shoaib Akhtar as it felt that his presence in the team would damage the image of the Pakistan cricket team. The ban prohibits him from playing in his home land for five years. The board was compelled to take the extreme step following repeated violation of the players’ code of conduct by Akhtar. The latest violation came when he openly criticized the PCB after he lost a place in the national team. The PCB has said they lost confidence in Akhtar. The player was on two-year probation for attacking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat in 2007.
The Saurav Ganguly-led Kolkata Knight Riders has signed a contract with Shoaib Akhtar for a sum of US$4.25 lakh for playing in the coming IPL Twenty20 matches. The IPL player policy says that the players participating in the tournament has to submit a No Objection Certificate from the Cricket Board of the respective country for joining the team. The home country could either give permission or deny it. IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said the PCB has not denied the NOC to Shoaib Akhtar. Akhtar, though, is now planning to file an appeal against the PCB ban.
After announcing the ban, the PCB disciplinary committee said the Akthar could not play for Pakistan or in Pakistan for next five years. They said he could play for IPL as it is not under their jurisdiction.