Shoaib's appeal hearing postponed

	Shoaib Akhtar will have to wait a while longer for a final ruling on his ban © AFP

The hearing for Shoaib Akhtar's appeal against his ban has been postponed because the judge was not available and a new date will be announced next week, a lawyer for the Pakistan Cricket Board said.

"Lahore High Court Justice Syed Zahid Hussain was not available to hear the case as he was attending the swearing-in ceremony of the president of Pakistan in Islamabad," PCB lawyer Taffazul Rizvi told AFP.

Shoaib publicly criticised the PCB for offering him a retainership rather than a contract in February, a final act in a litany of offences, for which he was banned for five years. The ban was later reduced to eighteen months, and then temporarily suspended by the Lahore High Court.

Despite the troubles caused by that outburst, Shoaib lashed out at PCB officials again during a television show in India. "Some people [in the Pakistan cricket administration] want to force their will and also want to save their egos," he told ANI. "In the process they have hurt not only me but also the country and Pakistan cricket. However, at the end of the day, I am back and I will play for Pakistan and god willing Pakistan will be back on the winning track."

His latest comments drew flak from former Test captain Intikhab Alam, who is also on the board's governing body. "I am surprised at the statement he has made about the PCB because he was supposed to go to England and play county cricket, not land up in Mumbai for a dance show and also give irresponsible statements," he told PTI.

Shoaib is currently playing for Surrey a bid to regain his match fitness. The PCB's ban limited him to only one first-class match this year.