Malik and Naved appeals adjourned

The appeals lodged by former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan against their one-year bans by the Pakistan Cricket Board have been adjourned to a later date. The one-man tribunal, chaired by Irfan Qadir, announced that Malik's hearing will now take place on May 29, while Naved's is scheduled for June 19.

"Malik's lawyer completed his arguments and the lawyer for the Pakistan Cricket Board wanted time for some legal matters so the appeal has been adjourned for May 29," Qadir told AFP. He added that Naved's appeal was adjourned until June 19 after his lawyer filed two more appeals and wanted to know constitutional points about the inquiry.

Seven Pakistan players were penalised, for various reasons, by the PCB in the aftermath of a winless tour of Australia. Younis and Mohammad Yousuf, who has retired from international cricket, were banned indefinitely. Malik and Naved were banned for a year while the Akmal brothers and Shahid Afridi were fined and placed on a six-month probation. Each of the players, with the exception of Yousuf, have appealed against the punishments. Younis and Yousuf were accused of "infighting" and having a "negative influence" on the team.

Younis' appeal has been adjourned to Saturday May 29. Pakistan cricket is already under crisis with revelations of the infighting and discord within the team, after a video of the PCB's inquiry committee was leaked to a television channel. Qadir said the hearings with the players were also being recorded in the interest of the players and PCB.

"In my personal opinion the proceedings should be open but on the request of players and the PCB we have not made it open," Qadir said. "For transparency we are keeping video recordings of the proceedings."