A Lahore court has deferred making a decision on whether fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar must pay an outstanding 7 million Pakistan rupee ($89,456) fine in order to be eligible for domestic or international cricket duties, the Pakistan Cricket Board's legal adviser said Monday.

The PCB sought a ruling from Lahore High Court judge Sayed Zahid Hussain on whether Akhtar was eligible to play in, or for, Pakistan without paying the fine.

Akhtar's lawyer did not attend Monday's proceedings but is expected to be at the new Oct. 3 hearing.

"Since Akhtar's lawyer was not in the court today, the judge has postponed the hearing," PCB lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi said. "(Oct. 3) was the earliest possible date that the judge could give."

Akhtar was fined and handed a five-year ban in April by a PCB tribunal for a disciplinary breach after he criticized the Pakistan selectors. The ban was later reduced to 18 months by an other tribunal, but a heavy fine was recommended.

The Lahore High Court in July suspended Akhtar's 18-month ban, but did not give any ruling against the financial penalty.

Akhtar was named in the Islamabad Leopards team for Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 tournament, which begins in Lahore on Oct. 4.

Rizvi said that if the issue surrounding the paceman's fine could not be settled by the court on Oct. 3, Akhtar will be ineligible to compete in the tournament.

Sapa

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