Karachi: Controversial speedster Shoaib Akhtar's international career virtually came to an end with an appellate tribunal today upholding the five-year ban imposed on him but allowed him to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

The appellate tribunal, in its interim ruling, said Akhtar could not play any match in or for Pakistan but gave him the liberty to play anywhere else in the world. Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, heading the appellate tribunal, said the ban stayed because Shoaib did not try to reform himself.

"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," told reporters in Lahore. "This is also the order of the disciplinary committee of the Board 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," Farrukh added.

Farrukh said the tribunal had taken this 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.

Farrukh said the tribunal would resume proceedings against the overall ban in June. Akhtar had appealed against the five-year ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board for breaching players code of conduct by criticising the Board in media when he was already in the probation period.

The interim order basically appears to be a move to allow Shoaib to play in the Indian Premier League. But the million dollar question is that whether the IPL will allow Shoaib to play in their League because earlier also their stance was clear that they wouldn't allow a banned player to play in their league. And the tribunal has not lifted the ban.

Farrukh also criticised Shoaib for the irreparable harm he had done to Pakistan cricket, his teammates and the trust of the nation.

Meanwhile, IPL sources have alleged that PCB's decision doesn't mean that Akhtar can play IPL. The BCCI Chief Administrative Officer -  Ratnakar Shetty - has categorically reiterated that Shoaib can't play IPL and PCB's decision doesn't imply that Akhtar can play in IPL.

Source : PTI