Shoaib's hearing postponed until October 24

A Lahore court has postponed a hearing into Shoaib Akhtar's pending fine until October 24.

"The judge was not available today and the new date is set for October 24," Tafazzul Rizvi, the PCB's lawyer, said.

The Pakistan board is seeking a ruling from Lahore High Court judge Sayed Zahid Hussain on whether Shoaib is eligible to play in or for Pakistan without paying an outstanding fine of Rs 7 million (approx US$105,000) for his criticism of not being awarded a central contract. Despite the pending court decision, the PCB allowed Shoaib to compete in the four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Canada last week in "national interest."

The PCB had sought a ruling from the court on whether Shoaib was eligible to play domestic and international cricket without paying the fine. The board hit Shoaib, 33, with the punishment earlier this year after he criticised the PCB over its failure to award him a central contract. He was initially banned by the PCB for five years, but the sentence was subsequently suspended pending a final decision by the Lahore High Court.