Ruing that his career has been plagued by scores of controversies, banned Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday said he is focusing on the forthcoming tour of India instead of fretting over the past.
"Although no cricketer wants to be banned and fined, I am happy that the hearing by the Pakistan Cricket Board was carried out fairly and I'm now keen to put this behind me," Akhtar, who was on Thursday handed a 13-match ban and a fine of 3.4 million rupees ($56,000) for four breaches of the code of conduct, wrote in his diary for bigstarcricket.com.
"There have been too many controversies in my career and in Pakistan cricket and all I want now is to focus on my cricket and win more matches for my country," he said.
Akhtar, who missed Pakistan's last tour of India in 2005 due to fitness problems, said his next target is to do well in the series against the arch-rivals next month.
"I was disappointed not to be able to make my comeback in South Africa for the Twenty20 World Cup, so I am especially keen now that if I don't play against South Africa that I do make the squad for the tour of India.
"I didn't go on our last tour to India in 2005 because of fitness, so this is a very important trip for me and the team. Hopefully I will be picked and I will be able to make some important contributions to the Pakistan team," he said.
The 13-match ban and fine of 3.4 million is the highest imposed on any player in Pakistan cricket history.
Shoaib was sent back from the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa by the team management after he hit Mohammad Asif with a bat.
