Appellate tribunal upheld ban on Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar's international future was left dangling in limbo after the Pakistan Cricket Board’s appellate tribunal, set up to hear his appeal against a five-year ban, upheld the ban.

However, the decision is temporary as the appellate tribunal postponed proceedings on the petition and decided to revisit the appeal in June.

Shoaib Akhtar rejected the stay of petition by the tribunal.

The three-member appellate tribunal, headed by Justice (Retd.) Aftab Farrukh, in its interim ruling Wednesday said Shoaib Akhtar cannot play any match in or for Pakistan, but allowed him to play anywhere else in the world.

Justice (Rtd) Farrukh said ban will stay as Shoaib did not try to reform himself.

"Basically he has not tried to reform himself and has continued to violate discipline. That is view of the tribunal, so the ban stays,"

he told newsmen here.

"This is also order of disciplinary committee of Pakistan Cricket Board that he can't play for or anywhere in Pakistan domestically or internationally. But there is no bar on him playing anywhere else in the world,"

Farrukh added.

He said tribunal had taken the decision in view of unconditional apology submitted by Shoaib on Monday to the nation, his team and Board for his actions.

The tribunal will resume proceedings against overall ban in June.