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Bollywood superstar and owner of Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders Shah Rukh Khan has advised Shoaib Akhtar to apologise to the Pakistan Cricket Board for the comments which earned the fast bowler a five-year ban.

The PCB suspended Shoaib from cricket in or for Pakistan earlier this month for repeated breaches of discipline.

The ban is not expected, however, to affect Shoaib's participation in the IPL when it gets under way later this month.

Shah Rukh wants Shoaib to begin the campaign with a clean slate and has urged the paceman to say sorry to the PCB.

He told Kolkata-based newspaper The Telegraph: "I'm older than Shoaib and, as I see the team and its players as my children, I've advised that he tender an apology.

"I believe that could help the PCB take a somewhat different view."

Shah Rukh reckons if the player does not win his appeal against the ban then his international career will be over.

"Look, he's 32 and how many more years can he play? You've got to accept that he's been among the few crowd-pullers in the past decade or so."

Shah Rukh is hopeful the 32-year-old will play a starring role in his team's opening IPL encounter in Bangalore on April 18.

"I've been dreaming that Shoaib will play our first game and take three wickets in the very first over," said Shah Rukh.

"It's not that I've gone out of my way to support Shoaib - I'd do so for every player in my team."

While Shoaib has caused Shah Rukh a certain amount of worry, the form of India batsman Sourav Ganguly has brought the owner much joy.

The Knight Riders captain made 87 in the second innings before India slumped to an innings defeat in the second Test against South Africa.

"Sourav was absolutely awesome in Motera the other day," he said.

"He was unlucky to be given out, but while he was at the wicket I was hopeful India would save that Test."

Lets hope that we get to the fiery pacer Shoaib akhtar in IPL