Akhtar to play regional T20

The Pakistan Cricket Board Tuesday said controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, if fit, would play in the national Twenty20 championship starting from October 4.
The PCB had initially said Akhtar would not be eligible to play for Pakistan or in Pakistan if he did not pay the fine of seven million rupees, imposed on disciplinary grounds.
"The court will decide on the legality of this issue and we will accept that when the decision comes. But for the time being we see no harm in Shoaib playing domestic cricket," a board official said.
"If the court says he has to pay the fine first to be eligible to play for Pakistan or in Pakistan then we will not consider him until he does that," the official added.
The Lahore High court Monday directed Akhtar to appear before it on October 3 on an application filed by the PCB asking the court to give a clear cut directive whether the fast bowler should be allowed to play without first paying the fine.
A PCB-appointed tribunal headed by a former judge of the Lahore High court had reduced a five-year ban on Akhtar in June that was imposed by the board in March for several instances of breach of discipline.
But the tribunal asked Akhtar to pay the fine which he has not done as yet.
Akhtar has refused to pay the fine insisting that since he has filed a writ petition in court against the fine and ban, the matter will be decided when the court hears his case and gives a decision.
The pacer has been named in Islamabad team for the Twenty20 tournament which is one of the most popular domestic events in Pakistan.