Pakistan court suspends ban on Akhtar

KARACHI (Reuters) - The Lahore High Court suspended on Friday an 18-month ban on Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar for indiscipline which will allow the fast bowler to return to international cricket if selected.

The PCB banned Akhtar for five years in April for several instances of indiscipline and violating the conditions of a two-year probation. A PCB tribunal later reduced the suspension to 18 months with a fine of seven million rupees ($101,000).

Akhtar petitioned the court to lift the suspension and made a separate application to stay the ban.

The court ruled on Friday that Shoaib was free to play for Pakistan until it reached a full decision on the writ petition.

"I just want to play for my country and my fitness is okay," Shoaib said. "I might travel to England to play a few county or league matches to gain match fitness."

PCB legal counsel Tafazzaul Rizvi told Reuters that Friday's decision was not final and the court had passed the order because it was closing for the summer vacations.

Akhtar, 32, who has taken 178 test and 219 one-day wickets, was also banned for 13 matches and fined 3.4 million rupees last year for striking team mate Mohammad Asif with a bat during the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.