Shoaib ban suspended

2:22pm Friday 4th July 2008

The Lahore High Court has suspended a ban imposed by an appellate tribunal on Shoaib Akhtar pending a final decision in September.

Shoaib was handed a five-year ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board which was then reduced to 18 months by an appellate tribunal, which also fined him seven million rupees.

"Shoaib is now free to play for his country," said his lawyer Abid Hasan Minto to reporters, confirming the suspension of the ban. "However, this is only an interim order. A final decision will be taken in September when the court reconvenes."

He said the decision on the fine remains unaltered.

PCB lawyer Tafazzaul Rizvi is confident, however, that the original punishment will be upheld.

He said: "It was the last working day of the courts and the courts usual give relief to petitioners just before their summer vacation.

"This is normal and it does not have a bearing on the final outcome."