Banned Shoaib to be barred from IPL, says official |
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Thursday April 3, 06:07 PM
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By Ananth Narayanan
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Pakistan's banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will not be allowed to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) until his suspension is lifted, league chairman Lalit Modi said on Thursday.
The controversial bowler was handed a five-year ban on Tuesday by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for disciplinary reasons.
The PCB had said the player can feature in the lucrative Twenty20 league starting on April 18.
"Shoaib has been banned from playing and until his ban is lifted he cannot play in the IPL," Modi told Reuters.
"We know his appeal against the ban is coming up for hearing," he said. "We're hoping his ban will be lifted. He is a great player and we want him to play.
"But he cannot play in IPL as long as the ban is applicable."
The 32-year-old fast bowler has threatened to take the PCB to court over the decision.
He has been signed up for the Kolkata team in the eight-team franchise league, promoted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and endorsed by all major national boards.
The Chairman of the PCB expressed his concern on Thursday at the "politicisation" of Shoaib's ban in Pakistan.
Dr Nasim Ashraf said Senate and National Assembly members who were questionning the suspension should respect the decision of the PCB.
FIRING LINE
"People should accept this decision and keep it away from politics," he told Pakistan television on Thursday.
"The board has been very lenient with Shoaib and we have tried to reform him but he has refused to change his ways."
He said Shoaib had the right to appeal against the ban within seven days.
"I don't think the board should be in the firing line, we are just trying to enforce discipline. And I reiterate whatever the reaction we will not compromise on disciplinary issues. No one is bigger than the game.
"The fact is that Shoaib committed multiple offences of violating discipline. The five-year ban on him is not based on one or two charges but six.
"He also violated his probation period of two years. And he knew he was under probation since last year for his behaviour," Ashraf said.
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