June 17, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 12, 1429

KARACHI, June 16: Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will appeal again for a further reduction to his ban for indiscipline, his lawyer said on Monday.

Shoaib, 32, had his five-year ban reduced to 18 months by a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appeals tribunal on Saturday.

“We feel the tribunal’s decision is still harsh and minimises Shoaib’s chances of playing for Pakistan again. He is very keen to resume his career as soon as possible,” said Abid Hasan Minto, legal counsel for Shoaib.

“But where we will file the appeal – in the high court or the tribunal itself – will only be known once we go through the full judgement copy of the tribunal.”

Shoaib, who has played 46 Tests and 138 One-day Internationals, was banned for five years by the PCB in April for several incidents of indiscipline and violating the conditions of a two-year probation.

Last year, the player was banned for 13 matches and fined Rs3.4 million for striking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat in South Africa before the Twenty20 World Championship, for which he was sent back home.—Reuters