Shoaib Akhtar

Breaking news (from yesterday) is that Shoaib Akhtar has received a 5 year ban from the Pakistan Cricket Board for criticising the board. Shoaib was on probation after hitting Mohammad Asif with a cricket bat before the 20/20 world cup, and recently breached this probation. Shoaib was demoted from a central contract on the Pakistan team to a retainer, and he openly criticised the Board for this. Shoaib said he was deeply disappointed, and has appealed against the ban. He also claims that he had apologised to the Board and to the disciplinary committee for his comments, but was still treated unfairly.
Another Pakistani player, Danish Kaneria, also spoke out against the Board after he was demoted to a lower category, however he was let off with a 'sever reprimand'.

Shoaib has since claimed that he is being 'pinpointed' within the Pakistan team, and that he will do everything in his power to fight the ban imposed against him.
Shoaib has emphasised his committment to the Pakistan National Team, and this will be a further test; if Shoaib is banned from playing for Pakistan, he is still able to play in the IPL for the Kolkata KnightRiders, where he is contracted for almost half a million dollars.

UPDATE: Shoaib has now been banned from playing in the IPL. I think the main reason for this is that the IPL wants to establish itself as an international body and feels it will be more credible if it complies with the national squads.
The PCB also filed a statement against Shoaib for defamation. He faces charges in excess of US$3 million if he is found guilty of the offence.