Younis'' appeal against indefinite ban deferred

ISLAMABAD: Younis Khan''s appeal against indefinite suspension from the national team was deferred Saturday until May 29.

Younis'' lawyer, Mohammad Ahmed Qayyum, was unhappy that arbitrator Irfan Qadir didn''t order an immediate stay on the ban.

``We requested the arbitrator to at least issue an interim stay against the suspension but he deferred our request until May 29,'''' Qayyum told The Associated Press. ``It''s a stigma on my client as I feel he has done nothing wrong.''''

Younis is among six Pakistan cricketers appealing against punishments imposed for indiscipline or poor performance during a tour to Australia earlier this year.

Only former captain Mohammad Yousuf, who has retired from international cricket, has not filed an appeal.

Qayyum said he had also filed an application to Qadir to cross examine members of the inquiry committee which recommended the suspensions and fines.

``We wanted to know on what grounds members of the inquiry committee recommended such harsh punishments, and for this we want to question them,'''' Qayyum said.

Shoaib Malik, who was suspended for one year and fined two million rupees ($23,500), also appeared before the arbitrator on Saturday with his lawyer.

``The arbitrator listened to our arguments and now representatives of the Pakistan Cricket Board will present their arguments in the next hearing,'''' Malik told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore.

The new date for Malik''s hearing was set for May 22.

The PCB formed the committee _ headed by its chief operating officer Wasim Bari _ to evaluate team''s woeful performance in Australia earlier this year where it lost three tests, five one-day internationals and a twenty20 game.

PCB suspended Younis and Yousuf for an indefinite period and fined Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal. Rana Naved was fined and suspended for one year.