Shoaib hopeful of exoneration
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Fast bowler Shoaib Akhter hopes the Appeal Committee will overturn a five year ban imposed by Pakistan Cricket Board on him from playing cricket in Pakistan or from representing Pakistan abroad.
He was talking to the media after attending a marathon three-hour meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Sports, which discussed ban on him with PCB Chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf also present.
Shoaib said he was certain his plea for exoneration from Appeal Committee was not without valid grounds. “I can then retire from cricket with honour”, he said.
Earlier, the Senate Standing Committee on Sports deferred further discussion on Shoaib’s ban until April 26 after the verdict is out by the Appeals Committee.
Dr. Nasim Ashraf said three men at the Appeal Committee were all impartial persons—its chief justice Aftab Farrukh had refused to take oath under PCO in 1981 while its members Haseeb Ahsan and Salman Taseer were also known for their independent views.
Shoaib refuted the charges levelled against him and emphasised that other players had been spared on similar offences. “I should not be singled out for harsh punishments. Other guilty ones should also receive the same treatment”, he said.
He said he respected PCB Chairman and added that he was even ready to rectify his problems. Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhary chaired the meeting while other senators present were Enver Beg, Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, Tariq Azim, Kausar Firdous, Rozina Alam etc.
Almost all senators stressed the need for discipline by players but also impressed upon PCB to reconsider the harsh ban on the fast bowler.
Besides the PCB Chairman, the other top brass of the PCB present included Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi, Chairman Disciplinary Committee, Lt. Gen.® Munir Hafiz and President Islamabad Cricket Association, Shakil Shaikh.
Shakil Shaikh also called for discipline by players and refuted Shoaib’s claim that he had withdrawn from Federal Areas team in the Pentangular Cup after informing the manager and the coach.
“He is lying through his teeth”, Nasim Ashraf said while commenting on Shoaib’s claim that PCB had asked him not to appeal against fine after incident with Muhammad Asif in South Africa.