Pakistani Shoaib Akhtar’s hearing at the Lahore High Court, where he is fighting a suspension, has been postponed until October 8 because of the Eid holidays.

Shoaib was banned for five years by the Pakistan Cricket Board earlier this year after he was found guilty of violating the PCB’s disciplinary code of conduct.

That ban was reduced to 18 months on appeal and it levied a fine of seven million rupees. However, Shoaib is appealing that decision in the courts and is desperate to resume his international career and ensure he plays in the cash-rich Indian premier League for the Kolkata Knight Riders in April and May.

The PCB's legal representative Tafazzul Rizvi told Geo TV the case had been postponed due to Eid: “The hearing could not be held. Chief Justice Syed Zahid Hussain has fixed October 8 as the new date for the hearing,” he added.

Shoaib was selected in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad for last month, before the event was postponed for a year because of the security situation in Pakistan. He then played three weeks at English county team Surrey to allow himself some match practice.