Akhtar fate to be decided on June 14

Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Appellate Tribunal (AT) today delayed a decision on fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's appeal against a five-year ban until June 14.

Newly appointed Muhammad Naveed Chaudhry as a member of the AT to replace Salman Taseer who recently resign from the tribunal also present during the hearing at NCA Lahore while former Test cricketer Haseeb Ahsan didn’t attended the hearing due to unwell health.

"Judgment will be announced soon after June 14", Aftab Farrukh chairman AT said, while PCB Laywer Rizwi revealed that both sides have completed their argumentation and expected the case will be concluded on June 14. If needed for any further point of argumentation, the hearing would be stretched.

Akhtar was allowed to compete in the lucrative Indian Premier League previous month after the AT lifted the ban for one month. Akhtar's lawyers had asked the tribunal to temporarily lift the ban because the IPL was refusing to allow him to take part in its competition while the ban stood.
The fast bowler was banned for five years by the PCB on April 1 following a series of disciplinary breaches, including making critical comments about the board against awarding him a central contract.