Akram to shun Pak captaincy

"Allegations of match-fixing have been backbone of all reasons (of quitting)," Akram told The Dawn during an interview and added, "These baseless accusations have taken a toll and I find myself in no man’s land."While stressing that "it has been the most difficult decision to take," the master all-rounder said that he has decided to play as an ordinary member of the team.

Akram, who led Pakistan in 17 Test matches and 72 One-day internationals since 1992-93, said, "I don’t find any strength in myself to sustain any more pressure and unjustified criticism which to an extent is personal."

"I am not enjoying captaincy any more, so what is the point in doing the job which you can’t enjoy. It is then better to step down and let another take over the team," he said.

Akram also said that he has been receiving death threats and his family members were being harassed and added, "After serving your country for so long, you get this treatment. It is depressing and upsetting."

Akram, who had earlier opted out of this month’s three-nation tournament in Dhaka due to fitness problems, further said that, "I am not motivated any more to lead the team and when I am not geared up myself, how can I lift my team on a demanding tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe?"

Pakistan is scheduled to leave for a tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe later this year.

Akram also criticised the cricket authorities in Pakistan saying, "I have badly lacking in support from concerned authorities."

Akram, who was accused of match-fixing in the recently held Champions Trophy where Pakistan lost two of the three matches, said that similar allegations have been made in the past also and "to rub salt into the wounds, no investigations have been carried out to convict or acquit the guilty".

He also said that only once a probe in match-fixing allegations was conducted in 1995 in which the accused player was acquitted as the accusers failed to prove the charges.