Tribunal bans Shoaib for 18 months, fines Rs 7mn

Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board's appellate tribunal on Saturday reduced the five-year ban on Shoaib Akhtar to 18 months, while imposing a hefty Rs seven million fine on the maverick pacer.

Tribunal head Justice (rtd) Aftab Farrukh announced the decision after a hearing in Lahore which was attended by the fast bowler.

Shoaib had originally been banned for five years by the PCB for several disciplinary violations on April 1 after he lambasted the board for denying him a central contract.

He had also alleged that PCB chief Nasim Ashraf asked for money to get him signed up for the lucrative Indian Premier League. He later withdrew the comments after being threatened with a Rs 200 million defamation suit by the PCB.

The pacer then appealed against the ban and the tribunal suspended the punishment for a month to allow him to play in the IPL for the Kolkata Knight Riders.The tribunal resumed hearing last week and its members were divided on whether to uphold the ban, reduce it or lift it completely.

The reduced 18-month ban means that Akhtar would remain out of the national squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan.