Shoaib Akhtar's five-year ban has been reduced to 18 months by a three-member tribunal and he has been asked to pay a fine of Rs7 million (approx $100,000).

The Pakistan fast bowler hoped his ban would be lifted after he issued an apology to the Pakistan Cricket Board and its Chairman Nasim Ashraf but his series of disciplinary breaches appear to have caught up with him. He is allowed an appeal, though.

“The five-year ban was too harsh and hence, we decided to reduce the ban on Akhtar to one and half years and impose a fine of seven million rupees,” the three-member tribunal chief Justice Aftab Farrukh told reporters.

"We think that he has three more years to play at international level, so we have given him half, taking the rest 18 months."

”It is up to him to appeal, we have given a decision after thoroughly examining the case and to the best of our conscience," Justice Farrukh added.

One of the tribunal party Naveed Choudhry said he wanted Shoaib to play after paying a hefty fine.

Shoaib, 32, was banned in April for five years following a series of disciplinary violations, including his public criticism of the PCB in January after he did not make it to the list of 15 players who were offered a central contract. The ban, however, was  suspended for 30 days to allow the fiery paceman to play in a domestic event in India.

Shoaib has been the most controversial character in Pakistani cricket for the last decade, though he has an army of supporters who have continued to stay with him throughout his troubles.

He has played 46 Test matches and 138 one-day internationals since 1997. He last played for his country on the tour of India in December.