Shah Rukh Khan at Film City in Mumbai’s Goregaon on Wednesday. Picture by Gajanan Dudhalkar

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan, the Kolkata Knight Riders’ owner, has advised the controversial Shoaib Akhtar to “apologise” to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for having said certain things which he shouldn’t have.

Shoaib has been banned for five years and unless the PCB’s appeals tribunal overturns the disciplinary committee’s punishment, he won’t (for starters) be able to turn out for the Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

“I’m older to Shoaib and, as I see the team and its players as my children, I’ve advised that he tender an apology... That, I believe, could help the PCB take a somewhat different view,” Shah Rukh told The Telegraph on Wednesday evening.

Smiling, Shah Rukh added: “In fact, I’ve been dreaming that Shoaib will play our first game (in Bangalore, April 18) and take three wickets in the very first over... It’s not that I’ve gone out of my way to support Shoaib, I’d do so for every player in my team...”

The advice, incidentally, has been conveyed through Shoaib’s manager.

According to Shah Rukh, if the ban isn’t revoked, then the punishment will end Shoaib’s career at all levels. “Look, he’s 32 and how many more years can he play? You’ve got to accept that he’s been among the few crowdpullers in the past decade or so.”

While Shah Rukh is worried on the Shoaib front (though coach John Buchanan has been a “calming influence”), Knight Riders’ captain Sourav Ganguly has brought much joy.

“Sourav was absolutely awesome in Motera the other day... He was unlucky to be given out (on 87), but till he’d been at the wicket, I was hopeful that India would save that Test... Dil wahi keh raha tha,” Shah Rukh pointed out.

Shah Rukh confirmed he’d be present during the Knight Riders’ first match, the game versus Mumbai here (May 16) and all 7 home matches at the Eden.