Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been fined Rs 10,000 for refusing to wear the logo of a cellular company on his shirt in a domestic Twenty20 Cup cricket competition.
Shoaib was fined by match referee Anwar Khan during the match in Karachi, where the pace bowler was representing Islamabad.
The temperamental speedster had covered the logo of the company on his shirt with a sticker.
"Shoaib was instructed by the referee to wear the logo on his shirt as the company has a contract with the Board. But he refused, saying he had no central contract with the Board," a Board official said.
Shoaib's central contract was cancelled recently after he was banned for two years by a drugs inquiry tribunal for testing positive for a banned steroid, nandrolone.
However, another appeals tribunal of the Board exonerated him of doping charges this month and set aside the ban after which Shoaib resumed playing domestic cricket.
"Despite several warnings in the match to display the logo, Shoaib argued that since he had not signed any contract with the Board, he was not bound by any sponsorship agreements of the Board.
"He argued that he was not being paid anything by the Board or company for wearing the logo," the official said. Surprisingly, all the teams playing in the Twenty20 competition have been sponsored by the cellular company and their logo on the front of the shirt is more prominent than even that of the tournament sponsors.
