Javed Akhtar sues Bacher for damages of Rs 100 million

Former ICC umpire Javed Akhtar has sued United Cricket Board (UCB) official Ali Bacher for Rs100 million as damages for bringing his name into disrepute.

The Pakistani umpire, who served on the ICC panel 1997-99, has filed the suit in a civil court in Rawalpindi. His namesake Judge Javed Akhtar has set Nov 27 as the date of hearing.

Ali Bacher had accused umpire Javed Akhtar, who stood as umpire during the last Test between South Africa and England in UK during August 1998 series, of giving away eight questionable lbw decisions which influenced the result of the series in England's favour.

Bacher had also accused the Pakistani umpire of colluding with a bookie, whose name starts with R. He also claimed that Akhtar was paid to influence the result.

The UCB official had first accused Javed Akhtar of wrong-doing in an interview with Australian newspaper in April. However, later he retracted from his statement and wrote to Pakistan Cricket Board that he was misquoted on the subject.

During that period the England and Wales Cricket Board also wrote to PCB clearing Javed Akhtar of any wrong-doing and informing the Pakistani Board that no such matter was in their knowledge.

However, in June, he again levelled charges against Javed Akhtar while recording his statement before the King's Commission, which investigated Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal.

Javed Akhtar, who will be turning 60 next month, has hired the services of three high court advocates - Waqar Siddique Loan, Tahir Jameel Butt and Tariq Pervez Abbasi - to pursue his case.