Two days after being handed out a five-year ban for bringing cricket into disrepute, Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday suffered another major setback with the Indian Premier League also debarring him from taking part in the cash-rich event.The IPL's Governing Council Chairman Lalit Modi said that Akhtar cannot take part in the high-profile Twenty20 competition till the Pakistan Cricket Board lifts the ban on him."A big discussion on Akhtar has taken place. The decision of the Governing Council was very simple that Akhtar has been banned for a period of five years, he has appealed and till the time he is cleared the Governing Council will not be allowing Akhtar from playing in the IPL," he said. Things get personal as PCB chief sues AkhtarThe chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) served a notice for alleged defamation on Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday for statements made after the fast bowler was banned for five years earlier this week. In a legal notice sent to Shoaib on Thursday, Dr Nasim Ashraf demanded an unconditional apology and Rs 200 million ($7.08 million) for defaming him personally and sullying the name of the PCB and the team. Shoaib said in a television interview on Wednesday that Ashraf tried to extort money from him for playing in the Indian Premier League and that the disciplinary action was taken against him because he refused, the notice said. Shoaib also alleged that Ashraf had demanded payments from other members of the team. "If you fail to strictly and immediately comply with the above take note our client reserves his and the board's right to avail any and all legal remedies under the civil and criminal laws of Pakistan," the notice said. The notice added that Shoaib's allegations were "utterly outrageous, fabricated, manifestly baseless and are vehemently denied in the strongest possible words". ICL not to welcome Akhtar unless ban is liftedShoaib Akhtar's cricketing options are running out fast with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) ruling out roping in the erratic speedster unless he is cleared of the five-year ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).Akhtar, who had joined the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders team for Rs 1.8 crore, has already been barred by the Indian Premier League (IPL), which insisted the pacer would have to get the ban removed if he wanted to play in the cash-rich Twenty20 extravaganza starting later this month.In such a scenario, aligning with the 'rebel' league would have been an option for the beleaguered pacer but even that looks difficult now with ICL authorities making it clear that they would not welcome the pacer unless he clears the ban."Look we want to promote cricket and we don't want to spoil our relations with anyone for anyone," ICL Executive Board Chairman Kapil Dev said."I don't think it would look right that a player who is under ban from his board is entertained by us. And I also think that even a one year ban makes it difficult for a cricketer to make an international comeback," he said.Asked if the ICL would still be willing to pay huge sums of money to Akhtar for the ICL, Dev said one could not predict what would be the scenario in the next few months.Incidentally, Akhtar had turned down an ICL offer even though compatriots like Inzamam-ul-Haq aligned with the rebel league.
