I cannot be barred from practicing anywhere: Shoaib

Hyderabad : After his appearance at Hyderabad's Gymkhana grounds for a practice session provoked some angry remarks and reactions from local cricketers and administrators, troubled Pak cricketer and husband of Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza, Shoaib Malik has come out in the open to clear the air about his ban.

Shoaib has issued a statement which mentions that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has banned him from participating in international matches and that does not stop him from playing first class cricket.

"Contrary to what's being said in a few circles,I have'nt and I cannot be barred from practicing anywhere because of the simple reason that the pakistan cricket board has only stopped me from playing in international matches," said Malik.

He further mentioned that he has participated in domestic T20 matches in Pakistan and also played in the Bangladesh Premier League. He trashed all talk about PCB having banned him from first class cricket as 'false and mischevious'.

Earlier yesterday, Shoaib accompanied his wife Sania and father-in-law Imran Mirza to the Lal Bahadur Stadium, where he watched Sania hit the court from the sidelines and also helped her during a warm-up session. With controversies following them ever since the two decided to tie the knot, both Sania and Shoaib would want the latest round of talks to settle down soon.