ICC to probe Shoaib's claim of offers to fix matches

New Delhi: Shoaib Akhtar's lawyers formally filed an appeal to get his five-year ban imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board overturned on Friday.

But the mercurial Pakistani fast bowler continues to attract more trouble.

Now the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit will investigate his claims on offers made to him to fix matches against India and South Africa.

Moreover, he still can't play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite Shah Rukh Khan's desperate appeal.

"We will stand by him during his hearing etc. If he gets cleared them he will be on board the team and play. As far as the legalities are concerned unless the IPL, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), the ICC all of them decide that he can play, we cannot go against them," Shah Rukh said.

Shah Rukh did try, pleading his case with IPL Chairman Lalit Modi on Friday morning but it fell on deaf ears.

For now any plans SRK may for Shoaib will have to wait.

"His contract stands. He is in the appeals process and he will be paid. We hope this will be resolved and he is able to play for us. There is no question of canceling his contract at the present moment," Lalit Modi said.

In Pakistan, Shoaib seems to be getting support and not just from the man on the street.

Reports suggest that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked the PCB to overturn his ban.

In fact sources tell CNN-IBN that the newly formed government may disband the PCB itself. Even other political parties including Nawaz Sharif's PML-N have come out in support of Shoaib.

"I do respect the law and the PCB and its chairman. I am thankful to people who supported me," Shoaib said after filing an appeal to the PCB against his ban on Friday.

But could there more trouble heading Shoaib's way?

"I had offers to fix matches. I was offered money in 2003 to do so but I refused because I can't betray Pakistan," he had revealed

Those comments in a TV interview after he was banned have caught the attention of the ICC.

Under the Code of Conduct; an approach to fix matches needs to be reported immediately to the captain or manager but Shoaib didn't do so and will be interrogated by a team of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit next week.

(With inputs from Raksha Shetty)