Shoaib to take legal action against two Pakistani citizens

Shoaib Akhtar has sued two Pakistani citizens and has sought Rs 100 million (approximately $1.7 million) for tarnishing his reputation and for damages caused to him mentally. The two citizens had earlier moved a court seeking a life-long ban on his playing cricket.

According to a report in The Nation Mr Furrukh Hussain, a civil judge in Lahore, called the defendants, Syed Muzammal Hussain Shah and Syed Najamul Abbas Shah, to appear in court on July 5 for the next hearing.

In July last year, the two had approached the court saying they were hurt by Shoaib's comments that he would have been better off playing for Australia. In an interview with The Guardian, Shoaib had said that he might have made a bigger impact in cricket if he was bowling Glen McGrath and Jason Gillespie rather than with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

"Wasim and Waqar are in decline. They were great but they're not match-winning bowlers anymore. Wasim has not won a match since 1996. So I have to make it all happen on my own. There is so much expectation on my shoulders. But, if I come on after those two [Australians], when the ball's a bit older and swinging. Imagine, it would be 'see you, mate, talk to you later' every time."

The two suitors had also accused Shoaib of attending a fashion show on the night of an important Muslim festival. However, they had failed to establish the charges and the civil court had dismissed the case. Shoaib will now be claming Rs 70 million as compensation for the 'malicious prosecution' and Rs 30 million for the mental agony that he had to suffer.