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Cricket News: Allegations are denied by Wasim

By Richard Bright

11 September 1998


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: The Electronic Telegraph
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Date-stamped : 07 Oct1998 - 04:25