Shoaib suffers set-back in his legal tussle
August 3rd, 2009 - 6:50 pm ICT by IANS
By Omar Khalid
Karachi, Aug 3 (IANS) Controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar’s hopes of ending his legal tussle with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) received a set-back Monday when a hearing on his case against an 18-month ban and a fine of Rs.7 million was postponed indefinitely because the judge supervising the case has been dismissed from duty.
Lahore High Court (LHC) judge Imtiaz Siddiqui, hearing Shoaib’s case, was one of the judges made non-functional following last week’s ruling from Pakistan’s Supreme Court.
In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court declared former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s action of imposition of emergency Nov 3, 2007 and removal of judges of higher courts unconstitutional and illegal.
With the decision, Lahore High Court, formed after the declaration of emergency, stands dissolved. The verdict has made some 120 judges of the higher judiciary non-functional.
Shoaib now has to wait for an indefinite period before his case against the PCB is heard by the court.
Shoaib is currently eyeing a successful comeback to international cricket in spite of his legal feud with the PCB and fitness problems. He is hoping to return to national duty during Pakistan’s tours of New Zealand and Australia starting in November this year.
Shoaib wants to follow a strict training regime to regain his form and fitness for a return to international cricket.
Pakistan are to tour New Zealand in November and will then fly out to Australia in December to play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 game.
Shoaib last played for Pakistan in the One-day series against Sri Lanka at home in January this year but was axed from the team because of poor form.
He was withdrawn from Pakistan’s squad for the World Twenty20 because of a skin problem and was later overlooked for the ongoing away series against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan also dropped him from the 30-man provisional squad for the Champions Trophy that begins in South Africa Sep 22.
The move has prompted legendary pacer Wasim Akram to announce that Akhtar’s career is virtually over, saying that the warning bells had been sounded with Akhtar’s omission from Pakistan’s list of probables for the Champions Trophy.
- Beleaguered Akhtar planning a comeback ahead of NZ, Australia tour - Jul 29, 2009
- Sidelined by PCB, Shoaib still eyeing a comeback - Jul 28, 2009
- PCB chief pardons Shoaib Akhtar - Sep 08, 2009
- Akhtar eyeing Test comeback with New Zealand trip - Oct 11, 2009
- Akhtar, Malik included in Pak team for Asia Cup - Jun 03, 2010
- 'Injury prone' Akhtar working hard to revive international career - Aug 13, 2010
- No farewell match for Shoaib Akhtar - Apr 14, 2011
- Pace bowler Sohail Tanvir included in Pakistan squad for New Zealand tour - Dec 28, 2010
- Shoaib Akhtar all set to return to Pak team for Asia Cup - Jun 01, 2010
- Pakistan announce World Cup squad without a captain - Jan 18, 2011
- Waqar unhappy with team selected for ODI series - Aug 27, 2010
- Pakistan drop Riaz over spot-fixing links - Nov 21, 2011
- Akhtar eyeing New Zealand Test series for staging comeback - Oct 12, 2009
- Akhtar ruled out for Sri Lanka one-day series - Jul 19, 2009
- Shoaib Akhtar aims to facilitate his return through Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - Sep 19, 2009
Tags: champions trophy, cricket pakistan, day internationals, imposition, indefinite period, international cricket, judgment, judiciary, karachi, legal tussle, military ruler, omar khalid, pacer, pakistan cricket board, pakistan cricket board pcb, pervez musharraf, play three, regime, skin problem, spite
