Ehtesab indicts suspended skipper

A final outcome on the probe is expected only after the one-man judicial commission headed by Lahore High Court Judge Malik mohammad Qayyum submits its report later this month.

Akram and two other leading players, Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed, have been suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board8217;s PCB ad hoc committee chairman, Mujeebur Rehman, who has said the trio will not be considered for selection to the national team till they clear their names of the charges.

TheEhtesab Accountability Bureau had questioned the three on the basis of a PCB probe committee8217;s interim report submitted in August last year. Saifur Rehman, the bureau chairman, has been quoted by The News as saying that a comprehensive report on the match-fixing inquiry has already been sent to the President, Lahore High Court and the PCB.

The Ehtesab Bureau chief told the paper that 8220;there was a lot of evidence made availabe to the EB, but now the matter is with the President, Lahore High Court and PCB.8221;

Saifur Rehman said, 8220;Only three cricketers, Akram, Malik and Ijaz were probed by the bureau officials,8221; and maintained that 8220;we have not frozen their players8217; accounts and nobody was put on the exit control list to prevent players from leaving the country.8221;

Meanwhile, Akram has warned that the entire Pakistan team might revolt if players continued to receive 8220;the same treatment8221; from the authorities. 8220;I have not spoken to the players, but if I do they will be with me,8221; Akram wasquoted by Urdu daily Jung as having said in an interview.

He cared a lot for the players because they were ready to play for him even when they carried injuries, Akram said and cited as example wicket-keeper Moin Khan and young fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for their readiness to play during the World Cup despite nursing injuries.

Meanwhile, PCB has said senior cricketers will now not be allowed to play in English county.

Mujeebur Rehman told Pakistan TV that 8220;senior players will not be allowed to play county cricket,8221; but there will be no restriction on junior to play in the English county for a year or two.

His focus would be on preparing the team for the 2003 World Cup and he wanted to build three teams 8212; National team, Green Pakistan team and an Under-19 side, Rehman added.