‘Allegations left me bitter, frustrated’](Daily Jang: Urdu News - Latest Breaking News update Pakistan - jang.com.pk)
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said that he wants to be involved with Pakistan cricket even after retiring from international cricket and would like to be associated as coach of the Pakistan under-19 or ‘A’ teams.
Appearing on a television talk show with another former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal, Wasim also lashed out at the former chief executive of the Pakistan Board Majid Khan and Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum.
The famed all-rounder believed that the cricket board headed by Majid Khan had worked in conjunction with the Justice Qayyum match-fixing inquiry commission to damn the players and destroy their reputations.
“I don’t know but the board then was working against the players. The Board lawyer was working against us and it seemed as if it had been decided to leave a black spot on the players reputations,” he said.
Wasim stated that he could not understand on what grounds Justice Qayyum had recommended a fine of Rs 300,000 on him on the charges of not cooperating with the commission. “I went to every hearing with my lawyer whenever I was called to do so despite my busy cricket schedule. I answered everything honestly with whatever knowledge I had. And yet I don’t understand how he could say I did not cooperate with the commission?” Wasim lamented.
He said that, unfortunately, none of the players who had been penalized by the Qayyum Commission had stood up and taken a joint stand. “I kept on telling the others come on let us file a joint appeal against these sanctions. Because we have done nothing wrong. But they all kept on avoiding a joint struggle. It was very unfortunate. I think we the players have ourselves to blame for not being able to show more unity and strength in our ranks when these match-fixing allegations were made against us.”
Wasim complained he could not understand how a judge who had never played cricket nor had any knowledge of the game or its intricacies could sit down to pass a damning judgement on a cricketer. “I just failed to understand what was happening. But yes there is no doubt that Majid Khan had a personal motive against me. I don’t know the reason for this but the way I saw it he has a one track mind, he is a man with a tunnel vision. Once he starts believing something he will never change his views and that is what happened with me.”
Wasim said that the match-fixing allegations had added a lot of pressure on him and the other players and it had become difficult for them to perform. “You don’t know what we went through. It was difficult to concentrate and play your natural attacking game. It was something which left me bitter and frustrated.”
The former captain said he had no doubt that because of the match-fixing allegations he had managed to just five 50% performance of what he could really have done for Pakistan.
“The match-fixing allegations is a chapter I want to forget and get my name cleared. I have always maintained I have done nothing wrong. Even now people don’t understand the only reason I delayed my retirement announcement after the World Cup was because I want to get my name cleared and wanted my appeal against the match-fixing sanctions heard by the Pakistan Board.”
He said it was surprising that one day before his appeal was to be heard by the present Board, he was informed through a letter that Zakir Khan who was heading the committee to hear the appeal had resigned.
“I called the board up and asked them if Zakir believed that he could not be fair to the responsibility given to him because he had played with me didn’t he know this one month earlier? Why postpone the hearing just 24 hours before its scheduled time?” he asked.
Wasim said he had got a lot from the game and wanted to give something back.
“I can’t see myself distanced from cricket. After retirement I want do be associated with Pakistan cricket as a coach. But I don’t want to coach the senior team I want to work with the youngsters so that I can groom and teach them something and they can go on to graduate to the senior team.”
Wasim also took a clear swipe at the present coach Javed Miandad, when he said he wanted to serve Pakistan cricket but not by earning Rs 20 million for two years, the amount being paid to Miandad by the Board.
He said he would also be taking up some commentary assignments.
Wasim also dismissed the talk about differences/fighting among the players in the dressing room. Both he and Asif insisted that most of the media reports on this subject were not true.
Asked about how he saw the future of the Pakistan team, Wasim said that Inzamamul Haq needed to be in the team because he was still Pakistan’s best batsman. “I have no doubt Inzi should be selected. We have talent But I think the board should have also appointed a young captain when they have started a rebuilding process. If they have decided Younis Khan or anyone else is to be the next captain then why wait for one year, what will happen in a year’s time? He should be appointed captain now so that he can learn and mature along the way.”
