New Delhi: Pakistan's mercurial speedster Shoaib Akhtar can no longer play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and to add insult to injury the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent a legal notice to him seeking damages of Rs 20 crore for an interview he gave to a private Pakistan network after his ban.
Shoaib was banned for five years by the PCB on Tuesday for indiscipline and he accused the PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf of trying to extort money from him and other players in the Pakistan team.
If Shah Rukh Khan had plans to get Shoaib to dance along in promotion videos for the Kolkata Knight Riders; those will now need to be squashed as the IPL has decided that unless Shoaib can convince the PCB to revoke his ban at home; he isn't welcome to play in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) promoted Twenty20 tournament.
"He has been banned for five years for all domestic and international cricket. He is a great player and we really want Shoaib to play for us but until the ban is lifted there is nothing that we can do in this regard," IPL Commissioner and BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi said.
Ironically; while banning Shoaib the PCB had said he would be free to play all other cricket including the IPL and that appeared to give Shoaib some confidence as he prepared to battle the authorities against his ban.
"They have even given me advance money and asked me to leave everything and play," Shoaib said.
Now the Kolkata Knight Riders are singing a different tune.
A spokesperson for the team told CNN-IBN that they wouldn’t contest the decision.
Clearly, Shoaib is being increasingly isolated in the cricket community and some strong voices are speaking out against him.
Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq justified PCB's decision to ban Shoaib.
"For any player it is a tough decision. But I can't say that it is a wrong decision as he has been involved in many controversies in the past too," Inzamam said.
But Shoaib Akhtar isn't Shoaib Akhtar for nothing.
Sources tell CNN-IBN that he continues to be in talks with the Essel Group promoted Indian Cricket League.
And his next step will be another intriguing tale to follow.
Comments
0 comment