PCB ditched Shoaib, claims lawyer; accuses it of U-turn

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Zahid Hussain, presiding over Shoaib Akthar’s petition, has suggested an out of court settlement between the concerned parties.

A similar opportunity the PCB tribunal was earlier brushed aside, according to Shoaib`s lawyer Abid Hasan Minto. Shoaib was offered to pay some specific money by the tribunal (the amount not disclosed) which would not have gone to the PCB, but was to be utilised for the benefit of former cricketers.

In his 19-page writ petition filed in the court on Monday, the senior advocate has mentioned how his client was ‘ditched’ by the PCB. "That shortly after the proceedings began before the appellate tribunal chaired by Justice (Retd) Aftab Farrukh on April 28, the members decided to adjourn for some consultation. After a while, they sent for Shoaib and his counsel who on joining the tribunal were informed by the chairman (Nasim Ashraf) that he had read the First Order (life ban) and that he was quite convinced that Shoaib was rightly penalised," it was written. "He also told Shoaib that he was very angry with him because of his behaviour. In any case, he said that notwithstanding the fact that he was convinced that the life ban should stand, the other two members of the tribunal were inclined otherwise.

"He then suggested that Shoaib Akhtar tender a public apology after which the ban imposed on him would be lifted but he would be fined some money which, instead of going to the Board, would be utilised to set up a fund for the benefit of former cricketers," the petition stated further.

"Shoaib agreed to this instantly whereupon he was given a piece of paper, handwritten by one of the members of the tribunal, containing the text of the apology proposed by the chairman. In the above circumstances, an apology was announced by Shoaib, on the clear understanding that on the next date (ie April 30) the case would be concluded in terms of the above stated proposal of the Tribunal," it said.

It than accuses them of doing a volte-face.

"However, this was not to be. On the next hearing the Tribunal refused to suspend or quash the ban and proceeded as if no understanding had been reached on the April 28 hearing."