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I'm not bothered by match-fixing allegations: Akmal
Pakistani wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal vehemently denied his involvement in match fixing during the national team's recent tour of Australia.
Karachi:
Pakistani wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal on Friday vehemently denied his involvement in match-fixing during the national team's recent tour of Australia and said he was not bothered about such allegations as had always played clean for the country.
ICC had on Thursday revealed that it was looking into Pakistan's poor show in their tour of Australia early this year and fingers of suspicion were raised on Akmal who had dropped four catches and missed an easy run out chance in the Sydney Test.
Akmal said he was fed up with the constant talk about match-fixing in Pakistan cricket and no longer bothered to even give credence to such stories.
"I don't even try to think about these things because I know I have always played clean cricket for Pakistan. I am really not bothered by these allegations because it is nothing new for me. I don't know how anyone can make such statements without evidence," Akmal told reporters in Lahore.
"I have told the PCB everything I had to about my performances in Australia. I just want to focus on my cricket and on our team," Akmal said after returning from London where he had a short shooting stint for an Indian movie.
Pakistan's coaches on the Australian tour, Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed expressed their suspicions over performance of Akmal and all-rounder Rana Naved for his batting and bowling in a one-dayer and a Twenty20 International match on the tour.
Video recordings of the proceedings of the inquiry committee that was formed by the Board in March to probe into the team's poor performance show Intikhab and Aaqib saying they have suspicions over the performance of both players and have heard things about them in relation to match fixing.
Akmal said he and the entire team had still not got over the heartbreaking loss to Australia in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
"It was heartbreaking to lose the match against Australia after we had played so well in the match," he said.
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt had told reporters on returning home from the West Indies that the PCB had informed the ICC they had found no evidence of any match-fixing by any player on the Australian tour.
ICC had on Thursday revealed that it was looking into Pakistan's poor show in their tour of Australia early this year and fingers of suspicion were raised on Akmal who had dropped four catches and missed an easy run out chance in the Sydney Test.
Akmal said he was fed up with the constant talk about match-fixing in Pakistan cricket and no longer bothered to even give credence to such stories.
"I don't even try to think about these things because I know I have always played clean cricket for Pakistan. I am really not bothered by these allegations because it is nothing new for me. I don't know how anyone can make such statements without evidence," Akmal told reporters in Lahore.
"I have told the PCB everything I had to about my performances in Australia. I just want to focus on my cricket and on our team," Akmal said after returning from London where he had a short shooting stint for an Indian movie.
Pakistan's coaches on the Australian tour, Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed expressed their suspicions over performance of Akmal and all-rounder Rana Naved for his batting and bowling in a one-dayer and a Twenty20 International match on the tour.
Video recordings of the proceedings of the inquiry committee that was formed by the Board in March to probe into the team's poor performance show Intikhab and Aaqib saying they have suspicions over the performance of both players and have heard things about them in relation to match fixing.
Akmal said he and the entire team had still not got over the heartbreaking loss to Australia in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
"It was heartbreaking to lose the match against Australia after we had played so well in the match," he said.
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt had told reporters on returning home from the West Indies that the PCB had informed the ICC they had found no evidence of any match-fixing by any player on the Australian tour.
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