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Pakistan cricketers’ appeal adjourned

LAHORE - A retired judge on Saturday adjourned until next week and next month appeals lodged by former cricket captain Shoaib Malik and allrounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan against a one-year ban and hefty fines.

‘Malik’s lawyer completed his arguments and the lawyer for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wanted time for some legal matters so the appeal has been adjourned for May 29,’ Irfan Qadir, the one-man arbitrator, told AFP.

Naved’s appeal was adjourned until June 19 after his lawyer filed two more appeals and wanted to know constitutional points about the inquiry, Qadir said.

Former captain Younus Khan’s appeal has already been adjourned for May 29.

The PCB banned Malik and Naved for one year on charges of indiscipline during Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia. Both were also fined two million rupees (24,000 dollars).

Younus and another former captain, Mohammad Yousuf, were banned indefinitely as a ‘result of infighting in the team’.

Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal were heavily fined and kept on a six-month probation.

The penalties followed an investigation into Pakistan’s tour of Australia, where they lost all three Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 international.

Except Yousuf, who retired in protest, all six players appealed. Appeals by Afridi, Kamran and Umar will be heard later.

Qadir said the proceedings were kept secret only in the interest of players and Pakistan cricket.

‘In my personal opinion the proceedings should be open but on the request of players and the PCB we have not made it open. For transparency we are keeping video recordings of the proceedings,’ said Qadir.

Younus and his lawyer last week showed frustration over the delay in arbitration, demanding a suspension of the ban to allow the former captain to play for Pakistan.

Pakistan is due to take part in Asia Cup in Sri Lanka from June 15-24.

They then play two Twenty20 and two Tests against Australia and four Tests, five one-day and two Twenty20 matches against England — all to be played in England between July and September.