LHC directs PCB to return penalty amount to Shoaib

The Lahore High Court here on Thursday, setting aside the decision of a tribunal constituted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), directed the PCB to return the penalty amount to Shoaib as he had already paid the amount in worth of rupees seven million. PCB Disciplinary Committee had imposed ban for five years on Shoaib's playing in October 2007 for several incidents of indiscipline and for violating the conditions of a two-year probation period imposed for hitting team mate Mohammad Asif with a bat.
It was also stated in the committee's order that Shoaib would undergo attitudinal counselling by an expert nominated by the board and would be on probation for years and if he commits and breach of contract or act of discipline during that period a life ban would be automatically imposed on him. Later, on Shoaib Akhtar's appeal the PCB tribunal headed by former justice Mian Aftab Farrukh on June 14, 2008 had reduced Shoaib Akhtar's five-year ban to 18 months and imposed a fine of seven million rupee.