Shoaib cleared for IPL

Shoaib Akhtar is free to play in the Indian Premier League after his five-year ban was suspended for a month.

Paceman set to join up with Kolkata

Shoaib Akhtar is free to play in the Indian Premier League after his five-year ban was suspended for a month by the Pakistan Cricket Board. A PCB appeals panel today opted to delay the fast bowler's ban, which bars him from all cricket in or for Pakistan, until June 3. PCB spokesman Amir Bilal said: "The PCB has always shown a flexible view to Shoaib Akhtar. "We said it at the outset that we have nothing personal against him. What ever happened has been done as per rules and regulations. "It is because of the chairman of PCB that he was not given a life ban and just given five years. So it was the tribunal itself which opted to give him a one-month suspension so he can play in the IPL.

Permission

"If the IPL gives him permission to play we have no problem." The decision means Shoaib, who was banned for breaching the players' code of conduct, is cleared to play for Kolkata Knight Riders. IPL Chairman Lalit Modi told Indian news channel Headlines Today: "I welcome Shoaib to participate in the IPL. "Shoaib is a great asset to cricket and will be so for his team the Kolkota Knight Riders. "I spoke to him yesterday and he sounded hopeful of the ban being lifted. He will be in India as soon as he can. He has a great following and people love him. "It is up to the team management to assess his fitness or when and where he can play. My job is to clear him to play, that we have done. The team will decided on the cricketing matters."