Shoaib ban appeal deferred by PCB

A Pakistan Cricket Board tribunal has deferred a decision on fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's appeal against a five-year ban until 14 June.

The career-threatening ban came after Shoaib, 32, publicly criticised the PCB's allocation of central contracts.

"We need more time to study the evidence," said tribunal chief Justice Farrukh Aftab.

Prior to the ban's imposition, Shoaib had been serving a two-year probation for attacking team-mate Mohammad Asif.

The tribunal had temporarily lifted the ban to allow Pakistani paceman Shoaib to participate in the Indian Premier League, where he had a brief stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Shoaib's own contract had been downgraded by the PCB.

Other members of the appellate tribunal include former Test cricketer Haseeb Ahsen and Naveed Chaudhry, who was included only last week after Salman Taseer took over as Governor of Punjab.