Shoaib Akhtar banned for 18 months, fined Rs. 7 millions
14th Jun 2008 20:00 IST Agencies
"I personally wanted the ban to be for two years but the majority prevailed and I am satisfied we took the correct decision as we want give Shoaib a chance to play again for Pakistan," Farrukh said.
The tribunal also recommended counselling for the erratic pacer to improve his behavior.
"He has also assured us he will reform himself," Farrukh said.
The legal counsel for the board Tafazzul Rizvi said he was satisfied with the decision, as justice had been delivered.
"The tribunal's decision is acceptable to us," he said.
But Abid Hasan Minto, Shoaib's lawyer, said he had the right to appeal against the decision.
"But we will only decide after looking at the proper order of the tribunal," Minto added.
The fast bowler, who has always been a problem child with several past instances of indiscriminate behavior, was in 2007 also banned for 13 matches and fined Rs 3.4 million for hitting teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat in South Africa before the Twenty20 World Cup and was sent back home.
It was in this punishment that he was put on a two-year probation.
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