Karachi,Controversial Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court against his 18-month ban imposed by the Pakistan cricket Board (PCB) holding him guilty of indiscipline.

The ban was slapped on the 32-year-old paceman after he publicly criticised the PCB for denying a central contract.

A PCB tribunal had reduced the suspension from five years to 18 months after a hearing earlier this month.

"We have filed the writ petition challenging the ban and hope it will be taken up in the next couple of days," Shoaib's lawyer Abid Minto was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"We have termed the decision of the disciplinary committee and the tribunal illegal and my client wants to play for his country."

Shoaib's ban started April 1.

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

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

EMAIL THIS NEWS COMMENTS POSTED BY Sujoy, lucknow on July 2, 2008, 1:53 pm
Shohaib is a spoilt brat. He cannot mend his ways so easily. Ban him for life. Agression is good but what he is potrayiong is not agression, its nuisense