18 month-ban, Rs 7 million-fine awarded to Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar had his five-year ban for indiscipline reduced to 18 months by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday.

Shoaib was also fined seven million rupees by a PCB appeals tribunal.

"The tribunal has taken the decision with a clear conscience and under no pressure from either the board or anyone else," tribunal head Justice Aftab Farrukh told a news conference, adding that the three-member tribunal unanimously felt the original punishment was too harsh.

Shoaib was banned for five years by the PCB in April for several incidents of indiscipline and violating the conditions of a two-year probation.

His lawyer Abid Hasan Minto said the player had the right to pursue an appeal against the 18-month ban.

"But we will take a decision after going through the long and detailed order of the tribunal," Minto said.