The latest on Shoaib Akhtar! Something Fishy!

Remember that sixandout had reported that Shoaib Akhtar of the Kolkata Knight Riders and er…Pakistan has been banned from International and Pakistan Domestic Cricket for 5 years. Then we reported that his appeal against his ban had been rejected and his ban stood. So far so good. Or bad, if you happen to be Shoaib. Then came the news that his ban had been suspended for a month so that he could play the IPL competition. This compels me to act a bit know-it-all-ish and quote myself from here:

Though it seems that his career is finally over, you never know with the Pakistan Cricket Board, given the past incidents, and more

What I wanted to talk about is the dramatic way in which the incidents have panned out. Though being nothing new, it sure is surprising. It all started with Shoaib being bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for a huge sum of money. Then he being banned for 5 years for reasons where we are not going right now (he hit a teammate). Then he goes in the press saying that Mr Naseem Ashraf, the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board vindicated him because he refused to pay him a share of his IPL moolah. Then there is talk of Mr Ashraf suing Akhtar on grounds of defamation.

Meanwhile, the IPL says that it won’t play a banned player. Too Bad. PCB reverts, the ban is on hold for one month. Now, suddenly, the lawsuit has also been taken back. Strange. Maybe Mr Akhtar has realised that paying a part of the earnings is the only way out. Or so it seems.

This is just an opinion. There are many. What do you think?

Photo: Newscom