PCB invites apology from Rana

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has encouraged Rana Navedul Hasan to approach the board in order to have his punishment reconsidered after the PCB appointed one-man tribunal adjourned his appeal hearing to June 26.

Naved was banned for a year and fined Rs2 million by the inquiry committee following the tour of Australia but the PCB legal adviser Talib Rizvi invited him to approach the PCB in a similar manner to what Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and the Akmal brothers did.

“I assured Naved in the hearing that if he approached the board and accepted his mistakes like the other players did, then the PCB, for the sake of the country and the game, will surely reconsider the case,” said Rizvi after the hearing that took place in Lahore yesterday and concluded without the tribunal reaching any conclusion.

Irfan Qadir, the one-man tribunal, has already overturned the ban on former captain Shoaib Malik who faced the same punishment as Naved.

“I’ve advised the PCB to reconsider Naved’s case as well and treat him in the same manner as it did in the case of several other players,” said Qadir.

“Naved’s case was heard in full but there was some clarification needed between the cricketer and the PCB so the hearing has been adjourned until next week. Meanwhile, both parties can clear their position.”

Naved, who is skipping his county commitments to be in Lahore for the hearing, remained satisfied with the proceedings despite no verdict being awarded on the day.

“I am satisfied with the way things have been progressing and hopeful for a favourable result,” said Naved. “In fact, I’m confident of being cleared in the next hearing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2010.