KARACHI, April 2: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stood by its decision to hand a five-year ban to Shoaib Akhtar as opinion remained divided over the severity of the punishment dished out to the controversial fast bowler.

“The appellate panel would be headed by the board Chairman and Shoaib can have the ban reviewed,” Shafqat Naghmi, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told Reuters on Wednesday. “But we don’t think it is an unjust decision of the disciplinary committee,” he said.

Meanwhile, five parliamentarians, led by a member of the ruling Muslim League Nawaz party, have filed a motion in the National Assembly in protest against the ban.

Parliamentarian Hanif Abbasi told a news conference the board action was unacceptable as it did not have a democratic constitution. “If the board does not relent we will get this ban overturned in parliament,” Abbasi said.

But former Test players Ramiz Raja, Mohsin Khan and Jalaluddin supported the ban, suggesting Shoaib had become too big for his boots. “No one is bigger than the game and he had it coming because of his attitude problems,” Rameez said.

Mohsin also criticised the irresponsible actions of the moody fast bowler and said the PCB had done no wrong in disciplining the player. “You can disagree with the length of the ban or some of the violations listed, but there’s no denying that Shoaib has tarnished the image of Pakistan cricket with some of his actions,” he said.

Former fast bowler and highly rated coach Jalaluddin in principle backed the move from the PCB.

“It is well past high time that PCB imposed the Code of Conduct properly. Whether it is Shoaib or anyone else doesn’t really matter. What matters is Pakistan’s prestige and no one should be allowed to cross the discipline barrier WE have suffered by such double standards and paying the price for it today,” concluded Jalal.

—Agencies