The 'Rawalpindi Express' will complete his ban later this month and will be available to play for Pakistan in the final one-day match against South Africa in Karachi on October 29, before also being available for selection for Pakistan's tour to India next month.
"After I received permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board, I have signed a contract to play for the Indian Premier League and it will be an honour to play in India," Akhtar told AFP.
Akhtar said he looked forward to playing in India where cricket officials have set up the Indian Premier League (IPL) to rival the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL), which is being bankrolled by India's largest media group.
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"I have signed a contract to play for the Indian Premier League and it will be an honour to play in India."
Shoaib Akhtar,
Pakistan fast bowler |
"My goal is to play for Pakistan and help them win in India. That comes first and after that it will be exciting to play in the league," Akhtar said.
He did not give details of his IPL contract.
The IPL, sanctioned by the International Cricket Council, is a Twenty20 competition scheduled to be launched next April.
Offering three million dollars in prize money, it will feature eight franchises participating in a 56-game season.
Rival competitions
Akhtar had earlier been offered a contract to play for the ICL, which he declined after Pakistan officials warned that any player signing with the rebel competition would be ineligible to represent the national team.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has backed the IPL and announced they have allowed six players to take part if they wanted.
Captain Shoaib Malik, star batsmen Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul Haq, all-rounder Shahid Afridi and paceman Asif were the players named.
Both Yousuf and Inzamam had already signed contracts with the rogue ICL, although Yousuf cancelled his contract two weeks ago and has now been served a legal notice by the ICL.
"PCB will give legal support to Yousuf and as far as I know Inzamam will also sign for IPL," Nasim Ashraf, PCB chairman, said last week.
Inzamam played his last Test on Friday before retiring from the Pakistan team.