LHC wants evidence against Shoaib

Published November 19, 2008

LAHORE, Nov 18: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sayed Zahid Hussain on Tuesday asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to furnish it with the evidence of misconduct against fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on the next date of hearing.

The chief justice had been hearing a petition filed by Shoaib against the 18-month ban and fine imposed on the pacer by the PCB. The judge adjourned the hearing after PCB’s counsel alleged that Shoaib had violated his commitment made before the court during the last proceedings.

He said during his recent Indian tour, Shoaib spoke ill of the PCB in front of media and indulged in indisciplined acts such as breaking team schedules to attend dance parties.

Shoaib’s counsel, however, said PCB lawyer’s claims held no value in a court of law which required documentary proof to accept such a claim.

PCB’s counsel then responded that he could produce recorded evidence of Shoaib’s activities in India and in the court within a week if required.

The LHC asked the PCB counsel to provide the evidence in the next hearing besides producing the past record of the pacer.

Agencies add: The LHC will look into the past behaviour of Shoaib before giving a verdict on his appeal against the 18-month ban and seven million rupees fine imposed on the fast bowler by an appellate tribunal of the PCB.

Zahid has asked the PCB to submit all the records of Shoaib’s brushes with authority, disciplinary offences and the penalties imposed on him by the board.

The chief justice gave the orders after the legal counsel for the fast bowler Abid Hasan Minto said before the court that the ban and fine on the bowler was unjustified as the PCB had never served any legal notice to his client.

Syed Tafazzul Rizvi, PCB’s legal counsel, informed the court that Shoaib had shown no signs of improving despite giving an undertaking to the court in September when he was granted a stay order against the ban allowing him to resume his career.

“I informed the court that despite the undertaking Shoaib had gone to India and criticised the Board there and also took part in a dance show on television without getting permission from the Board,” Rizvi said.

He said he had submitted a DVD copy of Shoaib’s activities in India and his press conference. “Since Shoaib’s lawyer insisted his client was never put on notice the court asked us to submit all relevant records of his past behaviour and deeds,” Rizvi added.

He said the PCB would submit all the records within a week and the court would then hold the next hearing.

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