Shoaib's career almost over as PCB panel upholds ban

OUT IN THE COLD: Pakistan's banned fast bowler arrives to face the tribunal at Pakistan Cricket Academy on Monday.

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New Delhi: It is almost the end of the road for Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar after his five-year ban was upheld by a Pakistan Cricket Board Appellate Tribunal.

Although the PCB says he is free to play in the IPL; it is unlikely that the league will let him in.

Their policy was made clear a month ago when Shoaib was first banned with the IPL saying that unless he can get the ban revoked; their door will remain closed.

Now only the formalities need to be completed. In June the interim order upholding Shoaib's ban will become a permanent one.

Barring a miracle Shoaib will be described as a former Pakistan cricketer as the PCB bosses are in no mood to allow him back into the national team.

Amir Bilal, PCB 's media advisor, said, ""Shoaib has made apologies several times and this was a disciplinary matter and PCB wants to set its records right. They don't wants such kind of things to happen again and again which would hamper the playing atmosphere of Pakistan cricket."

While the PCB may not want him to play for Pakistan anymore; they have no problem if a county team offers Shoaib a contract or if the IPL allows him to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

"We are of the view that Shoaib Akhtar can play anywhere outside Pakistan and it was not the intention of the disciplinary committee to restrict him from that. Further proceedings on the main appeal will come before hearings in June 2008," Aftab Farrukh, Chairman of Appellate Tribunal, said.

But the PCB's green signal may mean little.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty told CNN-IBN that their position remains the same and unless the ban is lifted Shoaib won't be allowed to play and while the IPL Commissioner and Chairman Lalit Modi chose not to comment before reading the tribunal's order he has made their stance pretty clear already.

"As and when Shoaib gets cleared and we hope he does because he is going to a tribunal and we hope the tribunal hears his case soon and clears him . Then he can come and play for us," Modi said.

So the door seems to have been slammed shut forever on the career of Shoaib Akhtar.