Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was on Saturday asked by Pakistan Cricket Board to pay the fine of seven million rupees imposed on him or forget playing in next month's Champions Trophy.
The fast bowler was served a legal notice on Saturday by the legal counsel of the board who said the fine had to be paid as per court orders or else Akhtar would be dropped from Pakistan's squad for the mega tournament.
"We have asked him to pay the fine or it would not be possible for us to retain him in Champions Trophy squad," PCB lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi told PTI.
Akhtar was picked in the 15-member Champions Trophy squad by the selectors with the board saying it had decided not to link the fine payment issue with his selection.
But Rizvi said Akhtar will have to pay the fine as Lahore High Court which has suspended the 18-month ban on Akhtar had not waived fine payment nor given any stay order against it.
"There is no court order saying he should not pay the fine. Even if the court upholds his petition against the ban and fine it will be refunded to him but he has to pay the fine now," Rizvi said.
The fast bowler had responded to an earlier board notice that the court had not set any deadline for paying the fine and he would wait for the court decision on his petition which will be heard next month.
Akhtar, who has not played for Pakistan since last December, was banned for five years by the board in March on various counts of indiscipline but an appellate tribunal in June reduced the ban to 18 months.
He then filed a writ petition in Lahore High Court asking for the ban and fine to be overturned. The court suspended the ban but has not passed any order on the fine.
