Akhtar’s ban upheld by PCB

But, IPL yet to decide on Shoaib ban

The Pakistan Cricket Board has rejected Shoaib Akhtar's appeal against the five-year ban imposed on him for repeated disciplinary breaches, but confirmed that he is free to resume his career overseas. The decision means Shoaib is free to compete in the Indian Premier League while remaining persona non grata on home soil.

The 32-year-old was handed the suspension from all cricket for or in Pakistan after the board claimed he had repeatedly breached their code of conduct and the PCB was finally forced to act after Shoaib hit out at the board for not being given a central contract earlier this year.

“Shoaib Akhtar can play anywhere outside Pakistan. The disciplinary committee did not restrain him from playing anywhere in the world,” retired judge Aftab Farrukh, the head of the three-member tribunal, told reporters here on Wednesday.

Farrukh said the main hearing into Akthar’s appeal against the ban would take place in June and that the ban on playing in or for Pakistan would stay in place until then.

In a statement, the PCB made it clear the ban did not apply to cricket played overseas - in theory freeing up Shoaib to play in the Indian Premier League.

"We for the time being are of the view that Shoaib can play anywhere outside Pakistan," said the statement.

"It was not our intention to him restrain him on that level. Shoaib can also play in the IPL. He however cannot play for Pakistan internationally or nationally."

The appeal panel, appointed by the PCB and comprising Furrukh, Salman Taseer and Haseeb Ahsan, upheld the initial decision prior to reconvening in June. However, Akhtar's lawyer, Abid Hassan Minto, stressed Shoaib's eagerness for the domestic ban to be reconsidered sooner.

Though the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has cleared Shoaib Akhtar to play in the DLF-Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders, the controversial fast bowler still cannot play in the Twenty20 league as per the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) recent decision. Shoaib was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders in February's auction for 425,000 US Dollars .

“Unless he is cleared to play for Pakistan, he cannot play in the IPL. This was the decision taken by the Special General Body of the BCCI in Bangalore before the start of the Twenty20 event,” BCCI sources said here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Kolkata Knight Riders made it clear that it would abide by the IPL’s decision on whether or not to allow Akhtar to play in the tournament.