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Akram blames it on the Pakistan media

Given a clean chit by his country's inquiry commission into match-fixing, Wasim Akram is all set to lead Pakistan against the West Indies today in the DMC Toronto Cricket Festival.

Pakistan will play three one-dayers against the West Indies on 16, 18 and 19 September.

Speaking at a pre-tournament press meet on the eve of the first match yesterday, Akram, who was reinstated as captain last week following the lifting of his suspension by the Pakistan Cricket Board, refused to be drawn into any discussion over the alleged match-fixing scandal which led him and fellow internationals Ijaz Ahmed and Salim Malik to be suspended pending the outcome of a judicial inquiry.

However, he told Canadian reporters: "Don't believe everything you read in the Pakistani press."

Though he refused to discuss the possible fates of Ahmed and Malik, he said the whole affair was essentially made up by the Pakistani media and he had been "a victim of three members of the (Pakistan Cricket) Board who don't know anything about cricket''.

Moin Khan, who was earlier appointed captain for the current series, and team manager Yawar Saeed flanked him as he addressed the press.

While describing his latest comeback as "a start from scratch, for the fifth time", Akram said the match-fixing episode not only made things difficult for him, but also for the whole Pakistan team.

He expressed relief that the worst is over now. He said, "Now, everyone is looking forward; I am quite relieved and happy to be back in the Pakistan team."

Agencies