Shoaib in more trouble with PCB

Shoaib Akhtar has run into more trouble with the PCB after the board accused him of violating his contract by criticising team management in a television interview.

"Akhtar has been served with a show cause notice as he violated the code of conduct," director of operations at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zakir Khan, told AFP.

Shoaib was withdrawn from Pakistan's squad for last month's World Twenty20 after being diagnosed with genital warts. He claimed the team management was conspiring against him and slammed the PCB for revealing the nature of his ailment, saying he had considered taking legal action against them.

Under the terms of his central contract, Shoaib is not allowed to give interviews without the PCB's permission or to criticise the team management. He has till July 31 to respond to the notice.

Shoaib is already embroiled in a legal battle over a prior code of conduct violation. In April 2008, he was banned by the PCB for five years after lashing out at the administration on being denied a central contract. The ban was later reduced to 18 months by a PCB-appointed appellate tribunal, though he was also handed a fine of Rs 7 million (around US $84,000). The ban was temporarily suspended when he appealed to the Lahore High Court, and the case resumed in court on Monday.

He has not been a regular member of the Pakistan side of late due to fitness and disciplinary issues. Shoaib was left out of the squad for the Sri Lanka series due to uncertainty over his fitness and he was not considered for the 30-man Champions Trophy pool either.