Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtars lawyer on Sunday refused to comment on the fresh legal notice sent by Pakistan Cricket Board to his client to pay a seven million rupees fine or forget playing in the Champions Trophy and Akhtar`s lawyer Abid Hasan Minto said since his office has not as yet received a full copy of the legal notice he would not comment on the matter. We will study the notice and then take appropriate action Minto said.
The fast bowler was served a legal notice yesterday by the legal counsel of the board who said the fine had to be paid as per court orders or Akhtar would be dropped from the Pakistan squad for the Champions Trophy. Akhtar was handed a ban of five years by the board in March which was reduced to 18 months by an appellate tribunal in June which however fined him seven million rupees and he then filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court asking for the ban and fine to be overturned.
The court suspended the ban but has not passed any order on the fine. His petition will be heard from next month. Sources close to Akhtar said the fast bowler was extremely disheartened after getting the fresh notice as he has started serious training for the Champions Trophy. He feels this is another attempt by some people in the board to cause him mental anguish and try to disturb his preparations for the tournament.
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