LAHORE, April 6: Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has given an explanation for issuing press statements over the ongoing Shoaib Akhtar issue, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said on Sunday.

The chairman disclosed that the coach had given an explanation to Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghami on Saturday for his press statement on the issue.

“The PCB will not allow any contractual cricketer or official to make comments on the issue, since we have decided to give a fair chance to Shoaib Akhtar to defend his case before the Appellate Tribunal,” Dr Nasim told Dawn.

The PCB’s disciplinary committee imposed a five-year ban on Shoaib Akhtar on Tuesday for breaching the Players’ Code of Conduct, some two months ago.

The maverick bowler has already submitted an appeal against the ban on Friday which will be heard by the Appellate Tribunal (AT) members who are yet to be named.

“I will announce the members either on Monday or Tuesday. It will comprise one former Test cricketer and one former justice,” he said.

“Frankly, I have not been able to finalise any name for it yet as I am looking for a former Test cricketer who as not offered his opinion on the issue. Yes, it is tough to find someone who has not spoken over the issue but I hope it will be done,” he added.

Sources said that it is most likely that the AT would reduce the punishment of five years to one year, but Shoaib will have a tough time facing International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

Opening chances of another confrontation, the Rawalpindi Express had said that he had turned down a money offer to him from the mafia asking him to perform below-par against South Africa and India for the sake of his country.

“Yes, ACU is coming to Pakistan to inquire from Shoaib the factual position but so far the unit has only dispatched a notice to the bowler which has been delivered to him at his Lahore residence as well as in Islamabad,” the chairman said.

There are reports that the ACU also made contact with Pakistan manager Talat Ali Malik and Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan to inquire whether Shoaib had informed them about the offer made to him.

Talat has said that Shoaib has not brought any such matter to his notice.