June 15, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1429

LAHORE, June 14: An appeal tribunal on Saturday reduced Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s five-year ban to 18 months and imposed a Rs7 million ($105,000) fine.

“We have in consensus decided that the ban on Shoaib is reduced to one-and-a-half years and impose a fine of Rs7 million,” the three-member tribunal chief Justice Aftab Farrukh told reporters.

He said one member of the tribunal suggested scrapping the ban but increasing the financial penalty to Rs20 million.

The 32-year-old paceman was banned for five years on a series of disciplinary charges on April 1. The ban was last month suspended for 30 days to allow the fiery paceman to play in a domestic event in India.

The judge said Shoaib could appeal against the decision.

“It is up to him to appeal. We have given a decision after thoroughly examining the case and to the best of our conscience,” he said.

One of the three members of the tribunal, former Test spinner Haseeb Ahsan, could not attend the meeting due to illness, but gave his consent by telephone.

Another member, Naveed Chaudhry, said he wanted Shoaib to play after paying a hefty fine.

“Since Shoaib plays for Pakistan, I wanted him to play but pay a hefty fine of twenty million, but the other two members thought otherwise,” said Naveed.

Shoaib said he was upset by the decision.

“I am disappointed at the decision because I want to play for my country,” Shoaib said. “Once my lawyer gets the detailed judgement then only we will decide about our step.”

Shoaib publicly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in January after failing to make a shortlist of 15 players who were offered central contracts.

He was already on two years’ probation for hitting team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat days before the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa last September.

“It is like giving half life to someone dying,” said Shoaib, who banned for 13 One-day Internationals for hitting Asif.

Last month the PCB softened its stance over the player following pressure from the government and the board’s chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf withdrew a defamation suit against him.

Dr Nasim had sued Shoaib after the bowler alleged in an interview that the PCB chief had demanded payments from Shoaib’s contract to play in the Indian tournament.

Shoaib dropped the suit after the player made a public apology.

Shoaib, who has played 46 Tests and 138 One-day Internationals since 1997, has not played for Pakistan since the third and final Test against India last December.

The temperamental fast bowler was also involved in a doping scandal in 2006. He and fellow paceman Asif tested positive for nandrolone and were handed bans, which were subsequently lifted on appeal.—AFP