Pak captain Wasim denied quitting from international cricket
khel.com, NewsAsia
Pakistan captain Wasim Akram on Sunday denied that he alongwith seven
other team-members were going to retire from international cricket to
prove their innocence that the World Cup final against Australia was not
“fixed”.
He said he was surprised himself to read about reports that he alongwith
seven other Pakistan players were going to quit the Pakistan team,
following allegations that the final was ‘fixed’. “I have no such plans
at all and I will be returning to Pakistan by end of August after
completing my commitments with Channel Four as commentator and the
Smithwick Club in the Birmingham League to start preparations for the
next international season,” he announced.
Newspapers reported that Wasim, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Salim
Malik, Ijaz Ahmed, Moin Khan were among eight Pakistani cricketers
threatening to retire in the wake of the baseless allegations against
them.
Wasim also disclosed he would not be attending the July 8 hearing of the
Judicial Comission in Lahore as he had already said what he had to say
before it and could add nothing new to his statement or the proceedings.
“My lawyer would be representing me, I cannot drop my commitments now
and go to Lahore for the hearing. I have informed the Board about it.”
He, however, maintained that he wanted the judicial comission to submit
it’s findings as soon as possible and bring an end to the baseless
allegations about match-fixing and betting. “Only then will our players
be able to play without any pressures on them.”