Akhtar prays for temporary stay on ban to play in IPL

Lahore, May 3 (UNI) Discarded from the Indian Premier League (IPL), temparamental speedster Shoaib Akhtar is looking to get his hands on the most talked about event this summer and today appealed for a temporary stay on his five-year ban.

''Since the tribunal will take time to reach a final verdict on the appeal, Shoaib has filed against the ban, hopefullty, he will be given a temporary stay for a month so that he can play in the IPL,'' Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, who heads the three-man tribunal told mediapersons.

Shoaib's appeal will now be heard tomorrow by the tribunal but Farrukh claimed that the pacer will be given permission to play in the IPL only if the approval comes with a majority.

A noted lawyer has been appointed as amicus curiae, who is an expert on criminology, to help the tribunal to handle the case.

There were reports suggesting that the two of the members of the tribunal, former Test player Hasib Ahsan and former minister Salman Taseer, were in favour of Shoaib while the Justice was sure that the ban was justified considering the speedster's past record.

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