Karachi: Desperate to play in the Indian Premier League, Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar today filed a fresh appeal with an appellate tribunal, praying for a temporary stay on his five-year ban so that he can take part in the IPL and earn his living.

"Shoaib said that since the tribunal will take time to reach a final verdict on the appeal he has filed against the ban, he should be given a temporary stay for a month so that he can play in the IPL," Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, who heads the three-man tribunal, told PTI.

The tribunal will now meet tomorrow to deliberate upon the fresh application but Farrukh said the majority's decision would prevail in the matter.

Farrukh, a retired judge of the Lahore High Court, said he had appointed a noted lawyer as amicus curiae to help the tribunal handle the case.

He said the amicus curiae was an expert on criminology.

This appointment gives credence to reports that the two other members of the tribunal, former Test player Hasib Ahsan and former minister Salman Taseer had joined hands in favour of Shoaib while the justice felt the case made against him by the board was very strong and the ban justified.

The tribunal had recently turned down an application to stay the ban but had allowed the pacer to play anywhere outside Pakistan.

The IPL Chairman Lalit Modi has made it clear that Shoaib couldn't play in the league for any team until he cleared the ban.

 

Source : PTI