Now Shoaib gets show cause notice

Now Shoaib gets show cause notice

Mercurial pacer Shoaib Akhtar has run into trouble yet again with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PCB has issued him a show cause notice for violating the terms of his central contract. In a TV interview on July 9, Shoaib, who has played 46 Tests and 144 one-day internationals, had criticised the team management and said he thought of taking legal action against the PCB for making his ‘skin infection’ public. The 33-year-old controversial fast bowler was found to be suffering from ‘genital warts’ a week before the national team’s departure for the Twenty20 World Cup in England and was withdrawn from the team.

Last week opener Imran Nazir, who has returned to international cricket after severing his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), was also issued a show cause for giving an interview to a sports channel without prior permission and approval of the PCB. Sources told Daily Times Monday that the notice to Shoaib had been signed by PCB director of cricket operations Zakir Khan and was sent to Shoaib two days ago, charging him with violating three clauses of his central contract. “Shoaib has been asked to submit his reply by July 31 and if the PCB is not satisfied with his reply, it reserves the right to penalise him,” added sources.

Shoaib told media yesterday that he would reply the show cause after consulting his lawyers and declined to comment on the charges. Shoaib was last week not included in a Pakistan squad for the Sri Lanka one-day international series and in a 30-member preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Shoaib, who is not new to controversies, is also fighting a legal case in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against an 18-month ban and a fine of Rs 7 million. The original ban was five years, imposed when Shoaib publicly criticised the PCB after his omission from the central contract last year. A PCB appellate tribunal reduced the ban to 18 months but levied the fine. Shoaib challenged that decision in the LHC which suspended the ban but upheld the fine. The PCB cleared him to play pending a final decision on his appeal and also awarded him a central contract earlier this year.

Shoaib’s 12-year-career has been beset with fitness and discipline problems. He has not been able to win a regular place in the Pakistan team. Shoaib, along with fellow paceman Mohammad Asif, also failed a dope test in 2006 and was banned for two years. Asif was banned for one year. The bans were overturned on appeal.