Thaindian News

By Zofeen T. Ebrahim
Karachi, April 30 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board media advisor Wednesday said that the Indian Premier League (IPL) doors are closed for Shoaib Akhtar as the contract clearly mentions that a player who has been banned from his respective board cannot appear in the IPL. “They (IPL) will not allow him to play unless they make an exception or make amendments in the contract,” said Aamir Bilal talking to IANS by phone from Islamabad.

“And if they can take action against Harbhajan Singh and allow Shoaib Akhtar to play, that would create quite a dichotomy,” Bilal said.

An appellate tribunal Wednesday upheld the five-year-ban imposed on Shoaib by the PCB, which cracked the whip on the fast-bowler after he breached the players’ code of discipline on several occasions.

The tribunal’s verdict came a day after Akhtar tendered an unconditional apology to the country and the chairman.

According to an eyewitness at the meeting where Akhtar apologised, “he seemed far from repentant”.

“It (apology) has all got to do with the few crores he may earn at the Twenty-20, for he is now a spent force and his glory days are over,” said Bilal.

“If the IPL allows him to play, he will be alright, but if they take a decision to the contrary, he is going to stir up quite a storm and politicise the issue, like he always does,” predicts Bilal.

Bilal said the board had already taken a “lenient view” of the breach of the code of conduct and slapped just a five-year ban instead of a life-time ban.

“He signed the statement that if he breaches the discipline conduct, then the PCB was liable to ban him for life,” said Bilal.

“From a marketing point of view, Akhtar is still a saleable commodity, specially in the 20/20 he can probably perform as well.”