Shoaib Akhtar faces life ban: Sources

[Guest Hiten.]

KARACHI, February 14: Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar faces a life ban following his latest outburst which evoked anger among top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board. "This time he has gone too far. We had already issued a notice to him to explain his earlier statements against the policies of the Board. Now he will face more punitive action," a senior PCB official said on condition of anonymity. He made it clear that in the next few days, the Board will decide on banning Akhtar from the ongoing Pentangular Cup. Akhtar had described the tournament as Grade 'B' cricket and lashed out at the Board for providing dead Kookaburra balls and a flat pitch for the Federal Areas match against Punjab. The official said Akhtar was already under a one-year probation period during which, if he indulged in any misconduct, he could face an automatic life ban. "Even if he is not contracted to us, there are certain playing conditions for the Pentangular Cup and also in the Board constitution which don't permit players to make such controversial and wrong statements," the official explained. Leading the Federal Areas team, Akhtar went wicketless in 18 overs in a high-scoring drawn match. He also dared the Board to issue a show cause notice to him over his statements insisting he was no longer contracted to them. Sources close to the maverick fast bowler say he had been consulting his legal experts to take the Board head on if they decide to push ahead with their decision to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him. They said Akhtar was fed up with the attitude of some Board officials and had been in secret talks with the rebel Indian Cricket League in case the PCB stops him from playing in the Indian Premier League. "As far as Shoaib is concerned, it is all out war now," a source said. TOI :hysterical::giggle:

[Anakin]

Fun never stops there :D

[Dirty_South]

Non-stop fun providers ....Padosees .... :two_thumbs_up:

[suraj]

How can they ban him if he is not under their contract?

[msb1991]

People should be entitled to criticise the board. The national boards need to realise that people do not lose respect to the PCB because of Akhtar's comments, they lose respects because of the very motives for his (and others') comments. Lifetime ban => Shoaib to ICL => Stronger Pakistani XI who will dominate all

[fineleg]

Will SRK offer Actor a job? :D

[Sachinism]

taking drugs - not too bad smacking a team-mate - bad, but we'll let it pass bullying the coach - lets ignore that criticising pitches and tournaments - life ban bit stupid i think

[Desi Cartman]

i just read on foxsports.com.au Reports from Pakistan indicated that disgruntled paceman Shoaib Akhtar, 32, was about to join his former new-ball partner Mohammad Sami, 26, at the ICL, incurring an automatic ban from the Pakistan Cricket Board. :hysterical:

[Ram]

If this news is true and If i were Pakistani, I would be :yay:

[Desi Cartman]

but this way PCB wont be able to gather XI players to play a test match. Whom are they gonna play then : Musharaff , Mushtaq Ahmed , waqar Younis ??? If so then commentary koun kurega :cantstop:?

[Mandrake]

but this way PCB wont be able to gather XI players to play a test match. Whom are they gonna play then : Musharaff , Mushtaq Ahmed , waqar Younis ??? If so then commentary koun kurega :cantstop:?

I'm sure "Boys well played" Inzy can do a very fine job of that:haha:

[Rajiv]

He's absolutely shocked

[DomainK]

I am quite sure that Akhtar is manufacturing a ban for himself so that he can easily join ICL and then put all the blame on PCB. Pathetic.