Shoaib Akhtar awaiting visa for Toronto four-nation tournament

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has been selected for the four-nation tournament to be played in Toronto next month, will have to wait for his visa as the PCB has still not been able to get the necessary clearance for him.

Lahore, Sept 30 : Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has been selected for the four-nation tournament to be played in Toronto next month, will have to wait for his visa as the PCB has still not been able to get the necessary clearance for him.

Shoaib's name was sent in a shortlist of players for the four-nation tournament starting from October 10, but the PCB was unable to obtain a visa for him, reported the Daily Times.

"He was in England playing for Surrey and we didn't have his passport. So, he has to wait. We will now send his name in the second list most probably," the paper quoted a PCB official as saying.

Shoaib will also know by next week from the Lahore High Court whether he can play in Pakistan and for Pakistan without paying a fine of seven million rupees imposed on him by a PCB appellate tribunal, added the paper.

The tribunal had reduced his five-year ban to 18 months, but enforced the fine, which the fast bowler has not paid till now. The PCB has sought clear directives from the Lahore High Court if the pacer can play without clearing the fine first.

The PCB had initially said Shoaib would not be eligible to play for Pakistan or in Pakistan if he did not pay the fine. The pacer has been named in the Islamabad team for the Twenty20 tournament.

ANI