Shoaib not yet exonerated

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Tuesday it would fight Shoaib Akhtar's case all the way but made it clear that it would not allow the paceman to bring the game into disrepute.

"We will continue to fight medical battle for Shoaib with the International Cricket Council (ICC). But at the same time, it isn't correct that Shoaib has been exonerated of misconduct charges," PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said.

Tauqir said he hasn't received disciplinary committee's recommendations against Shoaib. He admitted that match referee Denis Lindsay had not taken note of the misconduct but clarified that the PCB was looking above the incident.

"We have excellent relations with the Sri Lankan board. The players have good relations with Sri Lankan players. But Shoaib's conduct was unacceptable and could have spoiled everything.

"We have special relations with Sri Lankan board who came forward to help us when we needed them. "The PCB doesn't want that its players dent player-to-player or relations between two boards.

"Shoaib has apologized to the fans and to Mahela Jayawardena. But the case isn't over as yet. I have to see the findings and recommendations of the disciplinary committee before announcing the decision," Tauqir said.

Clarifying the medical battle, Tauqir said he was bemused that Shoaib was handled as a commoner. "For example, Muthiah Muralitharan and Shoaib played in the same match. The two have been cleared by the same Western Australia university. But only Shoaib has been reported.

"If the ICC says Muralitharan's case was old, then let it open previous books. The PCB will continue to fight the case until the ICC spells out its policies."

The PCB boss said he had great respect for Michael Holding and dismissed impressions that he was against his visit to Pakistan. "In fact, I wanted him in the past to help the academy boys. I know if Holding comes now, he will not only assist Shoaib but many other fast bowlers. "But my contention is that if Dennis Lillee has cleared Shoaib, why doesn't the ICC recognize it. After all, Lillee enjoys the same reputation as Holding."

Tauqir agreed that accepting Holding as Shoaib's bowling adviser would help the fast bowler, "but at the same time it would mount that I have accepted ICC's decision to invoke Stage Two. Besides, there is no guarantee that Shoaib would not be reported again if Holding clears his bowling action."