August 12, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 27, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 11: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday hinted that an inquiry will be conducted into Shoaib Akhtar’s act of indiscipline and for his alleged outburst at the PCB headquarters on Friday following the imposition of a fine of Rs300,000.

PCB’s Chief Operating Officer, Shafqat Naghmi told Dawn on Saturday that he will be looking into the whole affair himself. “I will be in Lahore on Monday and will inquire from the PCB staff about the actual incident which happened on Friday,” he said. “After that, will then decide on the course of action.”

On Friday, the controversial Rawalpindi Express, arrived at the PCB offices in a foul mood and allegedly used harsh words against the officials present over the imposition of the heavy fine without providing him a chance to clear his position.

The PCB had announced the punishment on Wednesday after Shoaib did not turn up last Tuesday to clear his position over his absence from the national training camp in Karachi on Aug 4.

According to sources, Shoaib has been insisting that he received the letter for disciplinary hearing on Friday and not on Tuesday as claimed by the PCB officials and was therefore entitled to a fair treatment in the case.

Naghmi, however, expressed his astonishment over the maverick pacer’s reaction to fine imposed by the PCB and said Shoaib had accepted the punishment in an earlier conversation with him.

“Shoaib rang me up and admitted that it was wrong of him not to attend the camp in Karachi and the PCB had rightly imposed a fine on him,” recalled Naghmi.

“The fast bowler, however, expressed annoyance over the manner in which one of the PCB officials had inquired of his whereabouts from his family.”

The COO was of the opinion that Shoaib’s complaint regarding the attitude of the PCB official had no weight since the board just wanted to inform him about the charges levelled against him as well as the date of the meeting to clear his position.

“Since the PCB failed in making any direct contact with Shoaib, the official asked one of his family members regarding his whereabouts.”

Moreover, Naghmi said the PCB would also take a decision on Monday over conducting an inquiry against all-rounder Abdul Razzaq for criticising the board on a TV channel following his omission from the Twenty20 World Championship squad.

“I did not see the programme so it is premature to make any comment on it,” he said.