LAHORE, April 30: The Appellate Tribunal, while upholding the five-year ban against controversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar, on Wednesday allowed the fast bowler to play anywhere in the world except Pakistan.

Reacting to Shoaib’s plea contending he be saved him from financial losses, the tribunal head Justice Aftab Farrukh declared that while the ban on him would stay, the maverick pacer is free to play the game anywhere in the world except Pakistan.

‘‘Basically he has not tried to reform himself and has continued to violate discipline. That is the view of the tribunal so the ban stays,” Justice Aftab told reporters in Lahore.

‘‘This is also the order of the board’s disciplinary committee that he can’t play for or anywhere in Pakistan domestically or internationally. But there is no bar on him playing anywhere else in the world,” the judge added.

He further said the tribunal had taken the decision in view of the unconditional apology submitted by Shoaib on Monday to the nation, his team and the board for his actions and deeds.

“We, for the time being, subject to further deliberation at the time of further hearing, are of the view that Shoaib Akhtar can play anywhere outside Pakistan and it was not the intension of the disciplinary committee to restrict him from that,” the AT head said while reading out his statement.

The tribunal, after holding its third meeting at the National Cricket Academy on Wednesday, deferred its further proceedings till the month of June.

The recent decision, however, has nothing new about it as the PCB already had no objection over Shoaib’s playing any where in the world including the IPL. The PCB’s disciplinary committee had only restricted him from playing for Pakistan or in Pakistan.

Shoaib, banned by PCB last month for violating the Code of Conduct and for a number of other offences, on Monday tendered an unqualified apology to the nation, the PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf and his teammates breached of rules and for criticising the board’s policies.

However, the interim relief can help him make contact with the IPL to play and earn some money.

“The cricket is on in shape of IPL and Shoaib Akhtar had already signed a contract with the league but as the AT proceedings can carry on for an indefinite period, it could cause financial losses to him which is not fair. So the tribunal has decided to defer the hearing till June,” he added.

“We are not suspending the operation of the order [five-year ban] because our view, fortified by the counsel of the PCB, is that the disciplinary order does not restrain the player from playing anywhere else in the world,” said Justice Aftab.

“Further proceedings in the main appeal will come up for hearing in June, 2008 — the date, time and venue to be fixed at the convenience of the panel,” he added.

The justice, however, was not satisfied with Shoaib’s past record and said the pacer had brought a lot of shame and embarrassment to Pakistan cricket which could not be overlooked. He, however, added that his unqualified apology had brought the mitigation factor into the case.

Later, Shoaib’s lawyer Abid Minto said that now Shoaib would talk to the IPL authorities, seeking permission to join it.

When asked if they would allow him to play, the lawyer said that he would request for an early hearing of his appeal against the ban which may enable Shoaib to participate in the IPL. “The original appeal against the ban still stands and I will contend against the ban because the severe punishment given to Shoaib is even against the PCB rules,” he asserted. “Shoaib asked for an apology only as a good gesture,”

Meanwhile, PCB’s lawyer Taffazul Hussain has said that the PCB had no objection over Shoaib’s playing anywhere and if contacted, the board would also convey this to the BCCI.

When asked how the PCB could ask BCCI to allow a player who has been penalised by the board itself, Taffazul said that the PCB would only recommend Shoaib for the IPL but it was up to them to take a final decision.

“The PCB is not against the livelihood of any person so we are not stopping Shoaib from playing in the IPL,” he said.

On a question regarding Shoaib’s likely behaviour in the IPL, the advocate said: “If Shoaib does anything wrong, there are rules and regulations to punish him too.”

Shoaib has signed a contract to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, a team fielded by Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan.

Though initial reports from the BCCI, soon after the AT’s interim decision, are not in favour of Shoaib, PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf has assured all out help for the bowler. “I have talked to Lalit Modi twice after the decision and the PCB will lend all its support to Shoaib in playing the IPL,” the PCB chairman said.