Pakistan’s sacked national ODI captain Shahid Afridi has withdrawn his case against the Pakistan Cricket Board from the Sindh High Court as part of an apparent deal with the board to resolve his ongoing dispute with them.
Afridi’s legal counsel Mahmood Mandviwalla appeared on behalf of the all-rounder before a two-member bench of the High Court on Wednesday and withdrew the petition filed by Afridi against the board and its disciplinary proceedings against him.
“The bench after hearing us out allowed us to withdraw our petition. We are hopeful that Afridi will get a just solution from the board to his grievances,” Mandviwalla told reporters on the court premises.
The withdrawal by Afridi of his petition comes a day after he met PCB chairman Ijaz Butt in Islamabad in the presence of an influential government personality and the two discussed the ongoing dispute.
Afridi also appeared in a public function to celebrate the relaunch of the Geo Super sports channel but declined to comment on his meeting with Butt.
“It was a very positive meeting and hopefully now things are being sorted out,” he said.
Sources said that as part of the deal with the board, Afridi will now appear before the board’s disciplinary committee in Lahore on Thursday and tender an apology for his violation of the board’s code of conduct.
In return, the board’s committee is expected to impose a financial penalty on the all-rounder and issue him NOC’s to play in lucrative foreign leagues.
Mandviwalla also confirmed that Afridi will appear before the disciplinary committee likely on Thursday.
“We didn’t want to move court but were forced. Now, I hope Afridi will get the NOC (no-objection certificate) and will be able to play in England and Sri Lanka,” he added.
