Stop playing, Imran urges Pak

The Pakistan Cricket Board8217;s PCB ad-hoc committee has suspended skipper Wasim Akram, Ijaz Ahmed and Salim Malik over match-fixing and betting charges.

The chairman of the committee, Mujeebur Rehman, has said the three would not be considered for selection until they proved their innocence.

Investigators from the government8217;s anti-corruption accountability bureau have interrogated the trio. The charges stem from an year-old interim report by the cricket board implicating the three in match-fixing and betting. Imran said the bureau and the board8217;s ad-hoc committee had notacted properly because 8220;they went public before any conviction8221; by a judicial commission which has been investigating allegations since last year.The commission has yet to announce its findings and the board8217;s interim report contained mere accusations, he said. 8220;What will happen if the suspended players go to the court to clear their names?8221; he said.

Lobby out to defame team: Moin Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wicket-keeper Moin Khan has dismissed betting and match-fixing allegations against the cricketers and has charged that there was a particular lobby8217; trying to defame the Pakistani team8217;.

Moin Khan, tipped to succeed Wasim Akram as skipper, said the allegations in the wake of Pakistan8217;s defeat in the World Cup final had 8220;demoralised the players8221; and appealed to fans in the country to support the players in this 8220;hour of trial8221;.

The Pakistan vice-captain told English daily The Dawn in an interview that because of the allegations 8220;they players are depressed, they have lostself-confidence. quot;They, in fact, are so scared they are trying to avoid discussing anything on cricket.

8220;These allegations are not new for us. For the last fouror five years, a particular lobby is trying to defame the Pakistan team by promoting such rubbish,8221; he said. The 28-year-old Moin Khan said the lobby8217; has caused lot of damage to Pakistan cricket as it has raised doubts in everyone8217;s mind.Moin Khan was among eight members of the World Cup side named in the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB probe committee8217;s interim report on betting and match-fixing that was made public by the anti-corruption Ehtesab Accountability Bureau recently. But he along with three other teammates was cleared by the PCB ad-hoc committee chairman, Mujeebur Rehman. Akram, Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed have been temporarily suspended by PCB till they clear their names of all match-fixing charges.

Moin Khan defended the team8217;s performances in recent times, which included victories in the inaugural Asian Test Championship and twotriangular one-day tournaments in India and Sharjah in the run up to the World Cup, besides reaching the final in England. 8220;We want to win all the time as far as cricket goes, but this is not possible at all,8221; he said, referring to people8217;s criticism of the team for its bad loss to Australia in the World Cup final last month.

8220;I will request the followers of cricket all over the country to support the team because we need their backing in this hour of trial,8221; Moin Khan said in an obvious reference to the ongoing investigations against many leading players.

Asked to comment on reports that he could be appointed captain, Moin Khan said it would be an honour as in the past when he had led Pakistan twice. 8220;If the ad hoc committee shows its confidence in me, I will certainly not disappoint them8221;.

Meanwhile, reports said Moin Khan and Salim Malik briefly appeared before the Ehtesab Bureau on Saturday. He termed his meeting with the bureau officials as 8220;normal8221; and said he has not been asked to appearbefore it again and that he was returning to Karachi.

He said he had already submitted details of his assets and properties to the bureau.