I will fight my ban in the highest court: Shoaib Akhtar
Addressing an overcrowded press conference in front of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press club here, the maverick pacer said he would be filing an appeal against the ban verdict within the next seven days to the board, as per the procedure.
“I will fight the case till the very end and if PCB rejects my appeal, I will go to the High Court and even the Supreme Court to get justice and to clear my name,” said Shoaib while addressing the highly charged meeting that appeared more like a political rally, with hundreds of fans and political activists chanting slogans against the PCB.
On Tuesday, Shoaib was handed a five-year ban by the PCB for ‘repeated violations of players’ code of conduct, barring him from representing Pakistan in domestic as well as international cricket on the recommendations of a disciplinary committee.
Showing his firm determination to fight his ban, Shoaib said that he will not go down without a fight and added that vested interests were hatching conspiracies to keep him away from Pakistan cricket.
The pace bowler further said that he had been made a target and was being victimized by certain quarters in the PCB. “But the whole nation is with me because they know that I have always played for the country and the team,” he said.
Defending himself in face of the list of offences issued by the PCB in a three-page chargesheet, he said they were all baseless allegations and could not affect his popularity among the masses.
Referring to his many injuries on tours and fitness problems which is also mentioned in the PCB chargesheet, Shoaib said: “I don’t accept this charge. We have seen in the past that players like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram stayed out of the ground many a times because of injuries. So why single me out this time?”
“If I have committed any violation of discipline, I should be told clearly about it. I have not done anything wrong to deserve this penalty. I haven’t murdered any one, then why such a ruthless decision against me?” asked the demonic-looking speedster.
The fans rushed to lift Shoaib on their shoulders soon after the press conference and promised to support the Rawalpindi Express in his fight for justice.
Agencies add: Shoaib Akhtar said he was offered money to under-perform in matches in South Africa and India but rejected them for the sake of his country.
““I have rejected many offers in the past to under-perform. It happened in Johannesburg and in India but I never accepted them because I can’t betray my country,” he said.
“Not even those players who were investigated on match- fixing allegations got this sort of ban,” he said. “Players who betrayed their country escaped without such punishment. Why am I being victimised?” he asked.
“They drop me from the contracts list. They force me to play on pitches on which batsman scores 300 in a day and yet one can’t even complain,” he said.
Shoaib added that he had rejected million-dollar offers from the rebel Indian Cricket League because it was not recognised by the board. “I am not going to accept this ban and will fight it to the end. Even if I have to retire from the game I will do it to pursue this case but I will not allow them to stigmatise me,” he added.
Akhtar also urged fans to remain calm and not to damage public property after several dozen supporters gathered in the capital to protest here a day after the ban was announced.
“I appeal to people not to damage public property and to remain calm. I will appeal to higher authorities, I will contest the ban. I did not commit any crime. This is a great injustice with me. But I assure people that everything will be alright,” said the 32-year-old bowler.
Akhtar was hauled before a Pakistan Cricket Board disciplinary panel after publicly slamming the board for refusing to award him a central contract in January.
The board said it took the harsh step of a five-year ban, effectively ending his international career, because he was on two years’ probation for hitting teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat in October.