His constant run-ins with authorities and injury breakdowns notwithstanding, embattled Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar has asserted that he still has four years of international cricket left in him.

"I am going to bowl again and I am going to play again for four years and show everyone how good I am," the 33-year-old stated.

The mercurial speedster, who is embroiled in a legal battle over the disciplinary ban and fine imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board, says he is hoping for better relations with the new set-up that takes over from the one led by Dr Nasim Ashraf.

"You know how things work in our cricket system. But now there is going to be a new cricket leadership and we will have better cricket brains running cricket in Pakistan that will look after our interests," Shoaib told 'Sky Sports'.

"We have been assured that we can just go and play and they will look after matters off the field. That is important for the Pakistan cricket side so that they can play the best they can," he added.

Shoaib was banned for five years in March for several violations of the players' code of conduct while on a two-year probation for good behaviour imposed in 2007. Shoaib then appealed to an appellate tribunal that reduced the ban to 18 months but imposed a fine of Rs seven million.

The fast bowler was not happy with the verdict and filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court challenging the ban and fine, a hearing on which is due to be held soon. Until the case is decided the court has suspended the ban.

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