Shoaib wants proper farewell match

Pakistan's enigmatic fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar wants to be given an opportunity to play a final farewell match this year although he announced his retirement from international cricket during the World Cup.

Although Shoaib himself has kept a low profile since returning from the World Cup, well-placed sources confirmed that the fast bowler had conveyed to the PCB about his desire to play a farewell match.

The experienced player suffered a setback in the World Cup as his announcement after the New Zealand match led to him not getting another opportunity in the cricketing extravaganza.

Ross Taylor and Co smashed him for 28 runs in his last international over.

Worse, he was fined $2000 for misbehaving with teammate Kamran Akmal who dropped Taylor twice in one over of Shoaib.

Local daily 'The News' reported on Thursday that Shoaib had kicked Kamran on the field during the match and used abusive language which led to an ugly scene on the field.

The report stated that while Shoaib was fined and issued a notice, the management also fined Kamran $1000 for his role in the incident.

According to the newspaper, some members of the Pakistan team didn't want the board to allow Shoaib any farewell match later this year in any series as they were still upset over the incident in the New Zealand match and didn't want the speedster back in Pakistan colours.

In 2007, erstwhile captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had also announced his retirement after Pakistan were eliminated from the World Cup in the first round.

But the cricket board later allowed and picked Inzamam to play a Test against South Africa in Lahore as a farewell gesture and also rewarded him with a cash bonus.

Sources said that Shoaib had mentioned the example of Inzamam while requesting for a chance to play a proper farewell match.

"He is not satisfied that he never got a proper opportunity to play his final match and be given a proper send off by his fans and that is why he wants a farewell match," one source said.

© PTI

Shoaib not to pay the fine: Lawyer

Shoaib Akhtar's legal counsel on Sunday said that the fast bowler would not pay the seven million rupees fine, as demanded by the Pakistan Cricket Board as a pre-requisite to keep him in the Champions Trophy preliminary squad, until the court pronounced its verdict on his writ petition.

Abid Hasan Minto said Shoaib would pay the fine imposed on him by the appellate tribunal only when the Lahore High Court will make a final decision on the writ petition filed by him against the ban and fine."He has no objections to paying the fine but only when the high court reaches a final decision," Minto said. Shoaib and fellow pacer Mohammad Asif were selected by the national selection committee in Pakistan's 30-member preliminary squad. The list of probables was to be released by the Board on Friday, the deadline set by the International Cricket Council.

However, the Board held back the squad and called the selectors for fresh discussion tomorrow. They have also sent a notice to Shoaib asking him to pay the fine by Monday to be considered for selection.

The fine was imposed by an appellate tribunal, which reduced his original ban of five years to 18-months in June after Shoaib appealed against the PCB decision to ban him for five years.Shoaib had challenged the tribunal decision in the High Court which recently suspended the 18-months ban but did not stay the fine imposed on him.

Minto said the payment of the fine had nothing to do with the court decision allowing him to play for Pakistan even though the court will hear the case sometime in September.

"That has nothing to do with this ... the question is about playing of the cricketer. The ban on him playing has been removed by High Court's interim order, therefore as far as the fine is concerned, he will pay when the final decision of the High Court comes," he argued.

Minto also said it was up to the Board to decide if they wanted to select him or not.

"The ball is in their court. What they decide is up to them. If they want the devoid the national team of his presence and keep a first-class cricketer like him away from the team then it is their decision."They know that the fines that have been imposed on my client in the past have always been paid and he has never challenged them," he said.