Ban on Shoaib Akhtar is lifted

Lahore: A judge says that an 18-month playing ban imposed by Pakistan's Cricket Board on fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for disciplinary violations has been suspended.

Lahore High Court judge Sayed Zahid Hussain said in his ruling on Friday that the ban was suspended until after the summer break when the court resumes hearing the case. That is expected to be in September.

PCB lawyer Tafazzaul Rizvi confirmed that the Pakistani international was "temporarily allowed" to play cricket.

A PCB tribunal had originally banned Akhtar for five years and imposed a 7 million rupees (US$102,900) fine. The ban was reduced to 18 months on appeal. Akhtar challenged the ban in the High Court.

Rizvi said Akhtar still had to pay the fine.