LAHORE, Oct 20: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) changed its stance within an hour after declaring paceman Shoaib Akhtar unfit for three weeks due to hamstring injury on the fourth day of first Test against South Africa on Monday.

Shoaib left the ground minutes before the end of the lunch. After hearing news of Shoaib’s absence for three weeks reporters queried the point if the bowler would be allowed to play in the first Test against Kiwis in January next year in New Zealand as he had been slapped with a one Test and two ODIs ban by Match Referee Clive Lloyd for breaching the players Code of Conduct.

If Shoaib is unavailable for the second Test against South Africa at Faisalabad from Oct 24 on fitness ground, then one Test match suspension will be applied on the first Test against New Zealand.

According to the ICC rules describing Code of Conduct for player and official clause 5.4” the penalty is to be applied in the form of matches (Test or ODI) in which the player is likely to play.

Soon after newsmen’s query PCB issued a press release announcing Shoaib may play in the second Test at Faisalabad if his appeal against one Test and two ODIs ban was upheld as medical tests proved that he was not suffering from hamstring injury as suspected earlier.

“We initially thought he had a hamstring injury. But he was made to undergo a series of tests and I am happy to say that he doesn’t have hamstring injury but a slight strain. We are working on him and have also given him an injection to which he has responded well,” Dr. Tauseef Razzak was quoted in the press release.

The press release also quoted Shoaib: “ I am feeling much better, better than I initially thought. I can say with conviction that I will be available for selection if my appeal is upheld. I took pain killing injections and I feel much comfortable. I understand that I have a big responsiblity on my shoulders and I will try to live up to it.

The PCB team management had lodged an appeal with the ICC to lift the ban. ICC has appointed former Australian Test captain turned-commentator Richie Benaud to hear Shoaib’s appeal. A decision on the appeal is expected in next couple of days.