Wasim Akram slams critics

Former Pakistani cricket captain Wasim Akram on Tuesday said calls for his ban over match-fixing allegations were underhanded attempts to distract the home side ahead of a high-stakes series against England.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman General Tauqir Zia also blasted comments from England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Lord MacLaurin that six Pakistani players should be banned from the upcoming Test series.

Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Akram Raza were fined between 100,000 and 500,000 rupees (1,725 and 8,625 dollars) by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum after a Pakistani match-fixing probe in May.

But MacLaurin on Sunday said the players should be banned until after the third Test against England on December 11, saying the penalties imposed against them were the "tip of the iceberg."

"I strongly condemn that and all such calls are unnecessary and negative tactics before the all-important Test series against England," Akram said.

"These people are trying to distract us. It's totally unnecessary and an attempt to distract us from the series against England.

"I will not comment on recommendations made by Justice Qayyum and whether I approve of them or not but after a comprehensive inquiry such calls (for a ban against the players) are baseless."

An International Cricket Council meeting in Kenya on Monday and Tuesday is to analyse progress on match-fixing issues in Pakistan, India and South Africa.

The ICC code of conduct commission under the chairmanship of Lord Hugh Griffiths may call for harsher measures against Pakistani and South African players, press reports have suggested.

Britain's Sunday Telegraph said Griffiths had apparently concluded more severe punishments were necessary.

PCB Chairman Zia also hit out at suggestions that the Qayyum inquiry did not go far enough.

"We conducted an inquiry but what did they (England's cricket authorities) do to allegations levelled by (fast bowler) Chris Lewis who named three English players?" General Zia asked.

"We have cleared our image and there is no need for such a statement by MacLaurin.

"Let our players focus on the coming series and not distract them by such statements."

Zia last week asked Pakistani President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar to order a judicial inquiry into allegations of match-fixing in two of Pakistan's World Cup matches last year, against India and Bangladesh.

A decision is expected this week.

Mail Cricket Editor