Shoaib Akhtar in soup again for outburst against PCB officials

Lahore, Aug 12 (UNI) Maverick Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar could face the music again as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to conduct an inquiry for his alleged outburst against officials at the PCB headquarters here following the imposition of a fine of Rs 300,000.

PCB's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Shafqat Naghmi told The Dawn that he would look into the whole affair himself.

''I will be in Lahore on Monday and will inquire from the PCB staff about the actual incident which happened on Friday,'' he said.

''After that, will then decide on the course of action.'' On Friday, the controversial 'Rawalpindi Express' had allegedly used harsh words against the officials present at the PCB office here over the imposition of heavy fine without giving chance to present his case.

The PCB had announced the punishment on Wednesday after Akhtar did not turn up for the national training camp in Karachi.

Akhtar said he had received the letter for disciplinary hearing on Friday and not on Tuesday as claimed by the PCB officials and was therefore entitled to a fair hearing.

Naghmi, however, expressed his astonishment over the maverick pacer's reaction to the fine imposed by the PCB and said Akhtar had accepted the punishment in an earlier conversation with him.

''Shoaib rang me up and admitted that it was wrong of him not to attend the camp in Karachi and the PCB had rightly imposed a fine on him.

''The fast bowler, however, expressed annoyance over the manner in which one of the PCB officials had inquired of his whereabouts from his family,'' Naghmi said.

The COO said Akhtar's complaint regarding the attitude of PCB officials had no weight since the board just wanted to inform him about the charges levelled against him as well as the date of the meeting to clear his position.

''Since the PCB failed in making any direct contact with Shoaib, an official asked one of his family members regarding his whereabouts.'' Naghmi also said the PCB would also take a decision over conducting an inquiry against all-rounder Abdul Razzaq for criticising the board on a TV channel following his omission from the Twenty20 World Championship squad.

UNI