Kolkata Knight Riders upate: Shoaib Akhtar verdict delayed, Sourav Ganguly looks to Umar Gul
Chances of Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar miss Indian Premier League have increased as the final decision on his ban being delayed further. A tribunal in Pakistan is expected to hear his appeal against the five year ban soon. It is expected that tribunal hearing his appeal against the ban would not take up IPL issue - but as long as the ban stands, BCCI would not find it practical to let Shoaib Akhtar play in IPL.
The major problem with the tribunal is that chairman of the appellate tribunal Aftab Farrukh is extremely busy with other engagements. It is unlikely that the case will be decided in a hurry. Aftab is a retired judge of Lahore High Court and now a practicing barrister.
Shoaib Akhtar wants an early disposal of the case so that he could play for the cash rich IPL starting from April 18, 2008.
The controversial fast bowler had been selected for playing for Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders. Shah Rukh wanted the Rawalpindi Express to play for his team from the beginning itself. He has also mounted pressure Board of Cricket Control of India to allow the Pak pacer to play for IPL matches.
Earlier, BCCI vice president and Chairman of Indian Premier League Lalit Modi had remarked that Shoaib Akhthar could not play IPL until Pakistan Cricket Board removes the ban imposed on him on disciplinary grounds. The tribunal, which has former Test player Haseeb Ahsan and former Minister Salman Taseer as other members, has a minimum of seven and maximum of 30 days to reach a decision on Akhtar’s appeal. It is unlikely that there would be an immediate decision taking move. Shoaib Akhtar was extended punishment for breaching players Code of Conduct. He had earlier publicly criticised various board policies after he was overlooked for a central contract in January.
Meanwhile there are reports that Kolkata Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly has zeroed in another Pakistani pacer, Umar Gul, to replace Shoaib Akthar for their first match. “Umar Gul is in our team. He will serve us well,” said Sourav Ganguly to the media when quizzed about the Shoaib ban.
Unless the Pakistan Tribunal takes a fast decision, the fate of Shib Akthar playing the cash rich Twenty20 matches looks unlikely - at least in the beginning.