Akhtar cannot play in IPL until the Ban is revoked

Two days after being handed out a five-year ban for bringing cricket into disrepute, Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar today suffered another major setback with the Indian Premier League also debarring him from taking part in the cash-rich event.

The IPL's Governing Council Chairman Lalit Modi told reporters that Akhtar cannot take part in the high-profile Twenty20 competition till the Pakistan Cricket Board lifts the ban on him.

"A big discussion on Akhtar has taken place. The decision of the Governing Council was very simple that Akhtar has been banned for a period of five years, he has appealed... And till the time he is cleared the Governing Council will not be allowing Akhtar from playing in the IPL," he said.

Modi said Akhtar had appealed to the PCB to overturn the ban and it was now up to the concerned Board to take a decision on the matter. "So if his appeal is upheld he will be taken into the IPL," Modi said.

Akhtar has been roped in by the Kolkata Knightriders, owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan for the IPL, which will begin from April 18.

The 32-year-old Akhtar has been banned for five-years by the PCB, which found him guilty on six accounts, including criticising the policies of the Board.

Another IPL Governing Council membert IS Bindra said it would be "odd" if Akhtar being banned to play for his country plays in the IPL.

"If he can't play for Pakistan, how can we play him? There will be no discipline left in the game, if we play him. It will set an unwanted precedent," said the former BCCI President.

"We (the IPL) want to be a part of the international system, not operate outside it. If somebody is banned on disciplinary grounds, that is a serious offense, and we felt it would be very odd if he was to play in IPL.