Akhtar continues to court controversy by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

Shoaib Akhtar

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DateLine: 27th July 2009

 

The right-arm fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, ran into fresh trouble, with the Pakistan Cricket Board issuing him a show-cause notice for violating the terms of his central contract with them.

 

Sources in the board confirmed that the show-cause notice signed by Director of Cricket Operations Zakir Khan was sent to Shoaib two days ago charging him with violating three clauses of his central contract. Shoaib has been asked to submit his reply by July 31st. If the board is not satisfied, it reserves the right to penalize him.

 

Shoaib told a television channel that he would give an answer after consulting his lawyers and declined to comment on the charges made against him.

 

This is not the first time that the fast bowler who has played just a handful of matches in the last two and half years due to fitness and disciplinary problems has been charged with misconduct by the board.

 

The Lahore High Court is still hearing a writ petition filed by the bowler challenging an 18-month ban and a fine of seven million Pakistani rupees imposed on him by an appellate tribunal of the board last year in June.

 

The appellate tribunal had reduced a five-year ban imposed by the disciplinary committee of the board early last year which charged Shoaib with violating a probation period and also the clauses of the players code of conduct.

 

Shoaib who has played 46 tests and 144 one-day internationals recently appeared on a television talk show and claimed that he had thought about suing the board for releasing his medical report before the T20 World Cup - which he said was a violation of his rights.

 

He also accused the team management of foul play and said he had been wrongly dropped from the team for the T20 World Cup.

 

The fast bowler was omitted from the squad after a medical panel of the board found he was suffering from "genital viral warts" and needed at least 12-days rest.

 

Shoaib was last week overlooked for a one-day series in Sri Lanka and from the preliminary squad announced for the Champions Trophy.