LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) chief justice on Thursday fixed April 16 for hearing of a petition moved by former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, challenging ban on his playing and imposition of fine on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The PCB had banned the fast bowler from playing for the national side for one-and-a-half years and imposed fine of Rs7 million in connections with charges of hitting a fellow cricketer during the tour of South Africa in 2007.

Shoaib had filed an application for early hearing of his petition.

The chief justice accepted the application and directed the registrar office to fix the hearing for April 16.