 Shoaib Akhtar free to play in IPL
4th May 2008 19:03 IST
Agencies
Beleaguered speedster Shoaib Akhtar heaved a huge sigh of relief as the appellate tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday decided to suspend the five-year ban on him for a month, paving the way for his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Appellate tribunal granted the temporary relief after Shoaib and his lawyers moved an urgent application Saturday that the ban be suspended so that he can earn his livelihood in the IPL.
Shoaib argued before the three-member panel that it would take a long time for the tribunal to reach a verdict on his regular appeal against the ban and therefore he should not be made to suffer for that duration.
The tribunal had refused to stay the ban earlier this week but had allowed the fast bowler to play anywhere outside Pakistan.
But the governing council of the IPL barred him from the tournament saying he would not be allowed until the ban is lifted.
Shoaib was bought by the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders for USD 425,000 in the players' auction.
Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, who heads the tribunal, told reporters that the ban would remain suspended until the regular hearing starts into the appeal filed by Shoaib from June 4.
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