Allegations are denied by Wasim (11 Sep 1998)

11 September 1998

Cricket News: Allegations are denied by Wasim

By Richard Bright

WASIM Akram denied match-fixing and bribery allegations and claimed there is a conspiracy against him.

The Lancashire captain was reacting after he was implicated along with Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed in match-fixing in an interim report by the Pakistan Cricket Board's investigations committee.

"I am really shocked and disappointed. Until and unless I am cross-examined [in court] no one can defame me like this," said Wasim.

"I am a fighter and will fight back once I come back. I will not let my enemies destroy me. I am ready to take everyone on," he vowed.

The 32-year-old all-rounder has featured prominently in match-fixing scandals haunting Pakistani cricket since 1994. He was stripped of the national side's captaincy in January but has turned down offers to lead Pakistan again.

"It is a one-sided story and should not have come out. The allegations are baseless," Wasim said.

A judge heading the investigation said his committee would finalise their report in three months. "We will give the accused players all the opportunities to clarify them," Justice Ejaz Yousuf said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board began the inquiry into match-fixing and betting after last year's Sharjah Cup, when Wasim led Pakistan to a 3-2 loss.

"Our people do not accept defeats and that is why they see something wrong in the matches we lose," he said.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)