Things get personal as PCB chief sues Akhtar

PCB chief Dr Nasim Ashraf has served defamation notice on Shoaib Akhtar after Akhtar blamed him for his plight.

The 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 and seen by Reuters on Thursday, Dr Nasim Ashraf demanded an unconditional apology and 200 million rupees ($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.

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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”.

Shoaib was handed a five-year ban on Tuesday after a series of disciplinary violations.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

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