ISLAMABAD, JULY 26: Three leading Pakistan cricketers, including skipper Wasim Akram, have initiated moves to defend themselves and prove their innocence following their temporary suspension by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the wake of betting and match-fixing allegations against them.Akram, Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed who were barred by PCB yesterday have already started consultations with their lawyers after Ijaz had a long chat with Akram in London over phone, according to media reports.Both Malik and Ijaz, who are already here and are expected to meet PCB's interim panel chairman Mujibur Rehman, have been avoiding the press and repeated calls to their residence remained unanswered.Other members of the Pakistani World Cup squad are also keeping away from making any comment in view of the turmoil in Pakistani cricket since the humiliating defeat to Australia in the World Cup final at Lord's on June 20.Akram has already refuted match-fixing allegations against him from London and has said hewas returning home to sort out the matter. He is expected to reach Lahore tomorrow.Akram's lawyer Khwaja Ahmed Tariq Raheem has criticised the authorities saying the Pakistan skipper has been suspended before allegations against him have been proved.He told the English daily The Dawn that the decision to suspend the three players has been taken on the basis of the report of the PCB probe panel headed by Justice Ejaz Yousuf, which led to constitution of the one-man judicial commission under Lahore High Court judge Malik Muhammad Qayyum.``Justice Qayyum has not given a verdict but the players have been suspended despite promise on the floor of the National Assembly that nothing would be done till the judicial commission submits its report,'' Raheem said.Raheem said he had already spoken to Akram in London and that he would take up the matter with the inquiry commission probing betting and match-fixing allegations in Pakistan cricket, when Justice Qayyum resumes hearing on August 17.Thecommission is currently on a month-long recess and is expected to finalise its report very soon on resuming hearing.
