October 04, 2008	Saturday	Shawwal 04, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: A Lahore court has postponed a decision until Oct 8 on whether fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar must pay an outstanding 7 million Pakistan rupee ($90,660) fine in order to become eligible for domestic or international cricket.

“The hearing has to be postponed because it’s still Eid holidays and the judge has given the new date,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Mansoor Suhail said. The PCB sought a ruling from the Lahore High Court (LHC) judge Sayed Zahid Hussain on whether Shoaib was eligible to play in or for Pakistan without paying the fine.

Last month, the PCB dropped its opposition to the paceman playing in a domestic Twenty20 tournament that begins in Lahore from Saturday.

“We don’t want to mix legal and cricketing issues and Shoaib can play in the Twenty20 tournament from Oct 4,” PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi said.

Shoaib is due to represent Islamabad Leopards in the Twenty20 tournament and his performance will be closely watched by the selectors and coach Geoff Lawson.

The selectors will use the tournament to choose a squad next week for the Twenty20 tournament in Toronto (Oct 10-13) in which Zimbabwe, Canada and Sri Lanka would also compete.

Shoaib was fined and handed a five-year ban in April by a PCB tribunal for a disciplinary breach after he criticised the Pakistan selectors. The ban was later reduced to 18 months by another tribunal, but a heavy fine was recommended. The LHC in July suspended Shoaib’s 18-month ban, but did not give any ruling against the financial penalty.—AP