PCB dropped charges after Shoaib threatened to join ICL

Disciplinary charges and penalties against Pakistan’s erratic pacer Shoaib Akhtar were recently dropped after the enigmatic speedster threatened to join the Indian Cricket League (ICL), sources revealed here.

Shoaib had left a training camp here last month without informing the manager even though the pacer claimed he had informed captain Shoaib Malik. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) subsequently fined him approximately $ 5,000 and docked points from his central contract. Shoaib appealed against the punishment and eventually a PCB appeal committee upheld his plea.

A well-placed source said that it was only after the pacer had threatened to join ICL that the committee decided to drop the charges against him.

The source also revealed that some other players are also been creating pressure on the Board, claiming they have multi-million dollar offers from the rebel Indian league.

Shoaib has already claimed that he had rejected an increased offer of close to $ 2 million to sign for three years in the league, while pacer Mohammad Asif put his offer figure at around $ 1.3 million with all-rounder Shahid Afridi also quoting similar figures. Most of these, however, are exaggerated, the source said.

“The figures being quoted by some Pakistani cricketers are inflated to a big extent. What I know is that approaches were made to some players to play in the league but no definite offers,” the source said. “The highest fee is being paid to former West Indian skipper, Brian Lara followed by Inzamam who is getting around $ 250,000 dollars for a season,” he said. He also disclosed that it was unrealistic to expect the ICL organisers and their main backer, Zee Telefilms, to pay such huge amounts to sign players.