Shoaib Akhtar apologized to the Pakistan cricket board and the general public at a hearing Monday to appeal his five-year ban from domestic and international matches.
The fast bowler filed an appeal with the PCB earlier this month after being found guilty of repeatedly breaching its code of conduct.
The PCB subsequently formed a tribunal headed by retired judge Farukh Aftab, former test cricketer Haseeb Ahsan and Salman Taseer, an ex-politician.
“He has submitted an apology with the tribunal in which he has apologized to his countrymen, the cricket board and his fellow cricketers,” said Akhtar’s lawyer, Abid Minto, after a two-hour meeting with the panel.
The PCB has also prepared a 200-million-rupee (US$3.2-million; €2.1-million) defamation action against Akhtar after he accused board chairman Nasim Ashraf of victimizing and trying to extort money from him and other members of the national team.
“It doesn’t mean that after submitting the apology Akhtar will be exonerated, but still it is an important development,” Aftab said.
The next hearing of the tribunal will be held Wednesday.
In a stunning revelation, Younus Khan, also apologised to the nation. Details of the apology will be made public soon after Akhter's. Also in the news, Kamran Akmal, is in talks with his lawyers, to submit a long anticipated apology to the nation. Tears could be seen in the eyes of those who read Younus Khan's letter though.
“I would like to apologise from the bottom of my heart for any grief and embarrassment I have caused with my actions and sayings to the nation, my team and the Pakistan Cricket Board,” said the 32-year-old in a statement read out by his lawyer Abid Minto.
“I have resolved to alter my habits and to refrain from any such actions in future.”
Former high court judge Aftab Farrukh, heading the three-man tribunal, said: “His apology will be given due consideration … and taken as a cause for leniency.”
Sad state of affairs, we are not even playing real cricket. The Nasim Ashraf’s, Younus Khan’s and Shoaib Akhtar’s are making all the headlines from our cricket-drought country.
Could this have been because of the harsh punishment handed out to Bhajji today? It seems it's not just PCB that's cracking down on indiscipline. Shoaib's only hope of playing in the IPL is if PCB lifts the ban.
Although the punishment was way too harsh, I don't believe for a moment that Actor is genuinely repenting here....rather apna kaam nikaalnay k liye for the time being* gudhay (call it PCB management, tribunal or nation etc.) ko baap bana raha hai....apnay haath se paisay jaatay dekh kar aksar log aisi hee hurkatain kartay hain..*
Probably Shoaib is thinking that an apology could result in some leniency from PCB which would allow him to play the current IPL season. Meanwhile Senate standing committee is working on PCB and rumours are that Naseem Ashraf will be leaving his office soon.
Anyway I found it really funny when I read that
“After a heated two-hour discussion on the charges levelled against the fast bowler, the situation took a turn when Shoaib asked for an unqualified apology to all public, to the PCB chairmam, and all his team-mates for anything which may have caused embarrassment for them.”](http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/347889.html)
