**Inzamam-ul-Haq insisted on his return to Pakistan that he would not seek legal action against Darrell Hair after being cleared of ball tampering charges by the ICC. “Our religion Islam teaches us to forgive and forget, so I forgive Hair and will not take any action against him,” Inzamam told AFP on his return. Inzamam said he had nothing in his heart against Hair. “It will take time to forget what happened at The Oval but my heart is clear as always, and since we have been cleared of the more serious charge of ball tampering I think we should bury the matter,” he said. **
Imran Khan and other ex-players had urged Inzamam to seek an apology and take the Australian to court for defamation but Inzamam justified the decision not to appeal against the ban. “The penalty imposed is the minimum in level III so it would neither be reduced nor would it be lifted if I had appealed. So I see no reason to take the matter any further.”
Earlier, Inzamam stood by his decision to protest at The Oval last month, when his team was judged to have forfeited the fourth Test, even though his punishment means he will miss the Champions Trophy.
Inzamam was cleared of ball-tampering at an ICC hearing on Thursday, but found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute over his side’s refusal to continue play against England. He will therefore be unable to lead his country into next month’s Champions Trophy, with Younis Khan taking control of the team in his absence.
“I knew I was going to be in trouble when I made the protest,” Inzamam told Bigstarcricket.com. “It was not a decision I took easily, because nobody wants to prevent the spectators from watching the cricket - both at the ground and on television.”
Even so - and despite the fact Pakistan became the first team in Test history to forfeit a Test match - Inzamam does not believe he did the wrong thing. “Although I regret the public were deprived of watching cricket, I don’t regret making the decision to stay off the field - because there are certain things more important than winning and losing or the rule book.”
“I felt the respect and integrity of my country had been brought into question, so the support the country has given me in this issue has been comforting. It told me that we were right to do what we did.”
Inzamam believes his decision - which meant England won the series 3-0 - helped to focus attention on what he saw as an unfair ruling. “If we had just carried on with the game, the world would not have sat up and taken notice of how we had been accused of something we were not guilty of.”
“We felt we had to stand up and protest. Ultimately, I understand the ICC’s decision to ban me. I did what I felt was right - and so did they.”
During the press conferences held after the hearing at The Oval Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, stressed how he felt ‘a slur’ against Pakistan as a country had been lifted following ICC’s ruling. However, he confirmed that Pakistan are not happy with the current law on how penalty runs are awarded in a case of ball tampering.
Meanwhile, Inzamam said he was heartened by the support he received from well-wishers: “I had a call on my mobile literally every minute after the hearing and I appreciate everyone’s good wishes.”
does not seem like an issue where INZI's forgiveness (why is he taking it personal I can't understand) rather a PCB issue and they should pursue a case against him to set an example. It is good that Inzi can move on though and the case should be between PCB and Hair.
Yes Hair and his accomplices - Doctrove, the third and 4th umpires - owe not just Inzi but the whole Pakistan team and our country a public apology. But given his stubbornness and pigheadedness some how I don’t see that forthcoming.
Good for him. There is no need to do anything else unless he is appointed to stand in Pakistan match again. If that happens, screw ICC and hire a hitman. :)
I think Inzi did great by releasing this statment, while he did his part in improving the image of islam by stating our religion teaches us to forgive and forget and that he forgave Hair he didnt say that we wont take any action agaisnt him. Inzi might have forgiven him on personal level but PCB should still go after him, first of all lock horns with the ICC and bring the charge of direpute against Hair and also file a civil law suit agaisnt him in england. Dont let this thing go away, let the world know we are serious about protecting our reputation and wont take any crap when you attack our pride. Call us cheats, then prove it or be ready to pay the price. The least that beghairat Hair could do was issue a public apology, maybe be diplomatic say that he made a decision to the best of his ability but since he is human too so he made a mistake and would like to apologise to Pakistan team. Show some balls when it really counts not just when you wanna play god in the cricket field.
...^^ ...The least that beghairat Hair could do was issue a public apology, maybe be diplomatic say that he made a decision to the best of his ability but since he is human too so he made a mistake and would like to apologise to Pakistan team. Show some balls when it really counts not just when you wanna play god in the cricket field.]
keep dreamin'...he has the arrogance of Abu Jahal....hitler...
The decision by ICC by not declaring Inzamam guilty of ball tampering and his latest statements does help us and take the doubtful light away from us but we can not make it personal and seize the game of cricket. There are many teams that feel embittered by umpires including India and SL, they did not take Hair to court. I think as Pakistanis we have a history of these kinds of baseless indictments so there is always going to be a desperate need to punish the accuser, especially someone who does it with narrow-mindedness.
I think PCB should make a final statement that they agree with ICC decision to ban Inzamam for four games for bringing the game to disrepute but do not agree that umpire Hair did not get punish for guessing and making a baseless allegation. Remember, we are not concerned in this storm; we never were when it happened. Every respected player, umpire and official took our side so it is only good to just let ICC take the issue and see what they do with it.
The controversy fatigued our team, and it showed in their performance. I do not think the players will and can take a pressure of another court controversy no matter how away they will be from it.
I dont think Inzamam sayin tht he forgives Hair makes ne difference to him....as far as I know he isnt expecting or hs any feeling tht he has done nethin wrong...
other thn providing the subcontinent crowd more food for thought this statement has done nothin....