Shoaib Akhtar is prepared to go to the high court if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reject the appeal against his five-year ban. The 32-year-old fast bowler was suspended from all cricket either in or for Pakistan following criticisms he made of the PCB after being overlooked for a central contract.

He vowed straight away to not take the punishment lying down, promising he would appeal within the stipulated seven-day period, and reiterated that stance today by confirming he would go to Pakistan's highest court if the PCB do not reconsider.

"I will not go down without a fight," Shoaib told a press conference in Karachi. "If the board reject the appeal, I will go to the high court and supreme court to get justice. I will definitely file the appeal in the next two days and will follow the PCB procedure."

Shoaib was offered a special retainership by the PCB but took offence at missing out on a top contract and hit out at the national governing body. His punishment was much more severe than expected, however, and he feels he has been made an example of.

"I feel I have been personally victimised by the board," he said. "I have not done anything wrong. I have not murdered anyone, so why such a harsh penalty?"

The career of the "Rawalpindi Express" has been plagued with controversy both on and off the field, ranging from a questionable bowling action and ball-tampering allegations to a drug scandal and missing a tour curfew. He was already on a two-year probation for attacking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before last year's World Twenty20 in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Javed Miandad believes the PCB must take their share of responsibility for Shoaib's fall from grace. The former Pakistan captain and coach reckons the board have been guilty of letting Shoaib off too lightly for previous misdemeanours and generally not clamping down when players step out of line. "I feel sorry for Shoaib but it is also true he has been involved in so many disciplinary cases," Miandad said. "However, I would like to add here that it is the result of the PCB's leniency towards Shoaib's past blunders.

"But now his [latest] offence is not that grave as several Pakistan Test cricketers in the past have done this type of wrong act repeatedly and got away with it."

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