By IANS,
Karachi : Temperamental fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar got a reprieve Monday after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided not to pursue its defamation lawsuit following a compromise between the speedster and board’s chairman Nasim Ashraf.
The meeting between the 32-year-old fast bowler and Ashraf took place late Sunday night at the residence of Rehman Malik, a key advisor to the prime minister in the current government on interior affairs. Shoaib apologised to Ashraf following which the defamation suit worth $3.37 million was dropped.
The meeting reportedly was organised by Malik, who called Ashraf and informed that Shoaib was ready to apologise to him personally and that the matter should be resolved for the good of Pakistan cricket.
PCB’s decision is a relief for Shoaib after the appellate tribunal suspend a five-year ban on him for a month and allowed the tearaway to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“He (Shoaib) has publicly and personally apologised, so I forgive him,” Ashraf was quoted as saying by Cricinfo. “My honour has been vindicated and now the defamation lawsuit will not be pursued.”
A disciplinary committee of the PCB banned Shoaib for five years for repeatedly violating the code and conduct. PCB chairman Ashraf also slapped the defamatory suit after Shoaib had alleged on a TV show that the PCB chairman had demanded a share of his salary from the IPL. He also alleged that Ashraf had tried to extort money from other Pakistan cricketers as well.