Pakistani tearaway Shoaib Akhtar has
categorically refused to sign the central contract offered by the
PCB, claiming that certain clauses have to be amended before he
signs on the dotted line.
The News quoted a close aide of Shoaib as saying that not only
was Shoaib reluctant to sign the contract in its present form,
but he has also sent in his lawyer's notice to the Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB), for amendments in this regard.
"He has sent
a note through his lawyer to the PCB making it clear that he
wants some amendments in these clauses," the paper quoted the
source as saying.
"Basically Shoaib is upset with a clause that also binds him to
endorse all the sponsors and their products who have agreements
with the International Cricket Council. While at the same time
makes it binding on him to seek Board permission before signing
any new individual sponsorship and endorsements and commercial
activities," he added. PCB officials have expressed their
displeasure over the botched manner in which the PCB has been
dealing with the whole issue.
They have also expressed their apprehension over the damage this
imbroglio will do to team spirit while on tour to Australia.
"Like it or not, but what Shoaib is doing is defying the board.
Once the central contracts have been introduced, no player should
be touring abroad without signing it because now no other
contract has legal value," the paper quoted a legal expert as
saying.
"If the board says Shoaib can continue to play for Pakistan under
the old contractual terms their argument has no legal value,
because once the central contract has been offered to him he
needed to sign it," he added. (ANI)