LAHORE, April 28: Lahore Eagles qualified for the triangular series of the inaugural Twenty20 Cup in somewhat controversial circumstances after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declared the result of Karachi Zebras-Sialkot Stallions as void. The decision came after Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik, skippering the Stallions, deliberately allowed the Zebras to win the match in a bid to prevent the Eagles from qualifying for the next phase.

Shoaib was subsequently fined Rs10,000, after a hearing with the match referee Khateeb Rizwan, for bringing the game into disrepute.

In a post-match comment, Shoaib admitted that what he did was as a mark of protest for what happened in the first match between Stallions and the Eagles the other day. Both teams were penalized 12 runs for slow over-rate during that match.

Shoaib openly objected that he was not informed about the rule of the penalty.

“The copy of the rules has been given to all participating teams and it was the job of the officials of the respective team to read it and act accordingly,” a PCB spokesman said.

It may be mentioned here that PCB chairman two months ago had said that Shoaib Malik had the credentials of a future Pakistan captain.

According to PCB officials, Shoaib is likely to be punished further for his unsporting act since he had conveyed a wrong message to the world that Pakistani players were allegedly involved in ‘match-fixing’.

Former Test batsman Shafqat Rana urged the PCB to hand out maximum punishment to the offending player.

Furthermore, Shafqat said along with Shoaib, the entire Sialkot Stallions team should be banned from taking part in domestic competitions.

Meanwhile, the lovers of the game also rang Dawn offices in Lahore to express their resentment over the act of Shoaib.

“I am deeply hurt what Shoaib said and it was a total irresponsible attitude of the player,” a caller Mohammad Usman said.

The spectators who were present at the crease also booed Shoaib for his unsportsmanlike action.

Our Sports Reporter adds from Karachi: Sirajul Islam Bukhari, the secretary of the Karachi City Cricket Association, expressed his disappointment over the incident.

Naturally upset at Zebras’ exit from the tournament, Bukhari said: “Of course I am flabbergasted at the outcome of the match between the Zebras and the Stallions. Without being prejudiced, the PCB should initiate an inquiry into the Lahore Eagles-Multan Tigers match earlier in the day.

“It was apparent to a common cricket fan that the match was pre-planned. Multan Tigers deliberately gave away far too many extra runs in no-balls and wides so that the Eagles stay in contention for a place in the next round.”