PCB has gone insane. Leave Shoab Akhtar alone. Fire nasim Ashraf

Shoaib was suspended by the PCB on Tuesday, a move that effectively ends his international career, after a series of disciplinary problems culminated in a public outburst against the board for not giving him a contract.

Under pressure: Shoaib Akhtar will not be able to play in the IPL

Yesterday, in a television interview, Shoaib claimed his ban had been punishment for refusing to give the chairman a share of his salary from the Indian Premier League. Shoaib also alleged that Ashraf had tried to claim money from other Pakistani cricketers as well.

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf said: "We demand immediate retraction of allegations from Shoaib in various statements which were malicious and baseless.

"He must apologise and pay damages of 100 million rupees (£800,000) to the PCB and damages of 100 million rupees to me."

In a letter made public by the board, lawyers for PCB chairman Ashraf demanded the money for a "malicious and vile piece of defamation".

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The lawyers' letter said he should pay Ashraf 100 million rupees "for defaming him personally" and the same amount again "for sullying the name of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan cricket team."

Ashraf insisted the ban on Shoaib had nothing to do with any personal confrontation with the fast bowler.

He said: "It (the ban) is a matter between the PCB and Akhtar but the malicious, baseless and outrageous allegations he has levelled against me are mud-slinging and I will fight that myself."

In a futher blow to the bowler, the Indian Premier League chairman, Lalit Modi, has now said he will not be allowed to play in the IPL until his suspension is lifted.

"Shoaib has been banned from playing and until his ban is lifted he cannot play in the IPL," Modi said. "We know his appeal against the ban is coming up for hearing.

"We're hoping his ban will be lifted. He is a great player and we want him to play. But he cannot play in IPL as long as the ban is applicable."

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