The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has returned an amount of seven million rupees to Shoaib Akhtar which it had deducted from the former fast bowler’s earnings as part of a fine imposed on him years ago. An official of the board said that during a meeting between Chairman of the executive committee, Najam Sethi and Akhtar, the matter was amicably resolved.
Some other top officials of the board were present in the meeting at the Gaddafi stadium.
"The matter is now closed and Shoaib Akhtar returned happy with the outcome," he said.
A reliable source informed that Shoaib had been returned the full seven million rupees without any deductions.
The PCB had in 2009 deducted the fine amount from Akhtar's annual earnings after an appellate tribunal of the PCB fined him on disciplinary grounds.
The appellate tribunal fined and banned Akhtar for 18 months for violating his contract and striking teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat before the World T20 in South Africa in 2007 and later on for criticising the Board and management.
But after the fast bowler filed a petition, the Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza in February this year set aside the seven million fine and the ban.
Justice Mirza also directed the Board to return the deducted fine amount.
The PCB deducted the entire amount from Akhtar's annual earnings, which included his central contract payments, match fees and win bonuses (from January 2009 to November 2009).
Image: Shoaib Akhtar
Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
