I will not be influenced by anyone: appellate tribunal judge

Lahore, Apr 8 (UNI) Retired High Court judge Aftab Farukh, who will head the three-member appellate tribunal which will hear Shoaib Akhtar's appeal against his five-year ban by the PCB, today said he would not be influenced by anybody and would only go by the evidence presented before him.

''The appellate tribunal will work independently and without any pressure. We will give fair hearings to both parties,'' Farukh said.

'' We will also look at the evidence with both parties before we reach a final decision,'' he added.

Farukh will be assisted by former Test player and chief selector Haseeb Ahsan and former Federal minister Salman Taseer who are the other members on the tribunal.

Akhtar was banned for five years by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last week. The fast bowler has lodged an appeal the ban, claiming it was illegal and unconstitutional.

UNI XC AB BST1351