PCB to try mending relations with former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to improve its relations with Shoaib Akhtar as the former fast bowler has stepped up efforts to get back seven million rupees, which he paid to the Board as a fine.

The PCB had in 2009 deducted the fine amount from Akhtar's annual earnings after an appellate tribunal of the PCB fined him on disciplinary grounds.

The appellate tribunal fined and banned Akhtar for 18 months for violating his contract and striking teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat before the World T20 in South Africa in 2007 and later on for criticising the board and management.

But after the fast bowler filed a petition, the Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza in February this year set aside the seven million fine and the ban. Justice Mirza also directed the Board to return the deducted fine amount.

The court after hearing arguments of the petitioner and the defendant had reserved the verdict since last year which was announced in full recently.

The PCB deducted the entire amount from Akhtar's annual earnings, which included his central contract payments, match fees and win bonuses (from January 2009 to November 2009).

Reliable PCB sources confirmed that the Board of governors at its meeting on Saturday had authorized Chairman Shaharyar Khan to work out a compromise with Akhtar by offering to return four million instead of the seven million.

"The board of governors felt it was time the PCB had better relations with its senior and former players like Akhtar and should try to invite him for tea and have a talk with him," one source said.

He said the board in return will not pursue the case in the Supreme court as the Board of governors also didn't agree to this step. Akhtar since beginning his stint on television in Pakistan and India has many times lashed out at the PCB and termed it an incompetent body.

Another source admitted that one reason for trying to mend fences with Akhtar was also because of the clout he now carried on media.

"It will be interesting to see what happens because the PCB is now ready to be happy with a fine of just three million rupees instead of seven million," the source said. "But Akhtar appears in a strong position since he has got the LHC decision in his favour."