Ashraf files defamation suit against Shoaib

Already banned by the Pakistan board for five years, there was more bad news for the beleaguered Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar as Nasim Ashraf, the chairman of the PCB, filed a Rs 22 crore (approx US$3.37 million) defamation suit against him.

Shoaib had alleged on a TV show that Ashraf had demanded a share of his salary from the IPL. He also alleged that Ashraf had tried to extort money from other Pakistan cricketers as well. Shoaib later retracted his claims and also made an unconditional apology for "any grief or embarrassment that may have been caused to the nation, particularly to the PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf".

Tafazzul Rizvi, the legal counsel for Ashraf, filed the suit in a civil court in Lahore and hearings will start from Saturday.

Ashraf had earlier served a legal notice that called upon Shoaib to "retract" his statements against him, and "tender an unconditional apology". The notice also sought damages of Rs100 million (approximately US$1.6 million) to Ashraf for "defaming him personally" and another Rs100 million to the PCB for "sullying the name of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket team."