April 04, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 3: The Pakistan Cricket Board sued paceman Shoaib Akhtar for Rs200 million ($3 million) on Thursday for making allegedly defamatory comments after he was banned for five years.

Shoaib was banned on Tuesday by the PCB, a move that has effectively ended his career after a series of disciplinary problems culminating in a public outburst against the board for not giving him a central contract.

“We demand the immediate retraction of allegations from Shoaib (Akhtar) in various statements which were malicious and baseless,” PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said.

“He must apologise and pay damages of Rs100 million to the PCB and damages of Rs100 million to me.”

In a letter made public by the board, lawyers for Dr Nasim demanded the money for a “malicious and vile piece of defamation” allegedly made by Shoaib in a TV interview on Wednesday.

The letter said that in the interview with a private TV channel, Shoaib alleged that Dr Nasim Ashraf had “pressurised you for and tried to extort from you” payments from Shoaib’s Indian Premier League contract, and that the five-year ban was a response to Shoaib’s alleged refusal.

Shoaib and several other Pakistan players have signed for the multi-billion dollar IPL, which starts from April 18.

The lawyers’ letter said he should pay Dr Nasim Rs100 million “for defaming him personally” and the same amount again “for sullying the name of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan cricket team.”

“By alleging that players have given me a commission to join the IPL, he has tarnished the image of his fellow players as well,” said the board’s chief.

Commenting on reports that the IPL has barred Shoaib form playing until his ban is lifted, Dr Nasim denied he put any pressure on the IPL to stop Shoaib from playing for them.

The PCB said on Tuesday that Shoaib was only banned from playing for Pakistan or in Pakistan.

“We stand by our commitment to allow Shoaib to play anywhere in the world and it’s the IPL’s decision to ban him from playing, we have nothing to do with that,” he stated.

The board’s chairman added the ban on Shoaib had nothing to do with any personal confrontation with the fast bowler.

“It (the ban) is a matter between the PCB and Shoaib but the malicious, baseless and outrageous allegations he has levelled against me are mud-slinging and I will fight that myself.”

He further said that if Shoaib appeals against the ban the matter will be dealt with by the book.

“I have the right to be the head of the appellate committee but I withdraw myself from that. We will form an independent committee to take up his appeal because I maintain that I have no personal thing against him,” he said.

Dr Nasim also expressed his concern at the “politicisation” of Shoaib’s ban in Pakistan.

He said Senate and National Assembly members who were questioning the suspension should respect the decision of the PCB, saying: “People should accept this decision and keep it away from politics.”

“The board has been very lenient with Shoaib and we have tried to reform him but he has refused to change his ways.

“I don’t think the board should be in the firing line, we are just trying to enforce discipline. And I reiterate whatever the reaction we will not compromise on disciplinary issues. No one is bigger than the game.

“The fact is that Shoaib committed multiple offences of violating discipline. The five-year ban on him is not based on one or two charges but six.

“He also violated his probation period of two years. And he knew he was under probation since last year for his behaviour,” Dr Nasim said.

On Wednesday, Shoaib claimed that he was offered cash to underperform in matches in South Africa and India, but he refused to take part in any match-fixing.

“I was offered billions of rupees in betting. There was a briefcase full of money placed on the table before me in Johannesburg,” Shoaib said in TV interviews broadcast late on Wednesday.

“I was never tempted yet I am punished for doing nothing wrong,” he said, alleging a link between his ban this week and the unspecified bribe offers.

“I don’t want to sensationalise things, but by saying this I want to let the people know how much I love to play for my country and I have never tried to damage the name of my country,” he emphasised.

“Even in India I was offered money to under-perform and on various other occasions but I told the people who offered me money to run away or I will let loose.

“I never tried to sell cricket or my country’s name. I was never tempted by money. I have played my cricket clean but the ban has hurt me badly,” the bowler added. —Agencies