LAHORE, 24 April 2004 — A disgruntled Pakistani cricket fan yesterday served a legal notice against express pacer Shoaib Akhtar accusing him of faking an injury in the recent test series against India.
“My client Babar Ali has served a legal notice on Akhtar over pretending injury in the decisive Test against India and over his reported nightclub bashes in India,” Babar’s lawyer Ansar Mahmood Bajwa said.
The fan demanded 100 million rupees (around $1.7 million) in damages within 15 days, and threatened to take the case to court if damages were not paid. Akhtar, the 28-year-old spearhead of Pakistan’s bowling attack, failed to play the third day of the final Test against India on account of back and thumb injuries.
Cricket authorities are questioning the authenticity of his injuries following a wrist x-ray which suggested there was no damage. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan told the BBC the board had formed a four-member medical commission headed by an orthopedic surgeon.
“Akhtar pretended injury and let the whole nation down and then rubbed salt on the wounds with his off-field actions,” the lawyer alleged.
Lara Fit to Play Against England
West Indies captain Brian Lara said yesterday he would be fit to play in today’s second One-Day International against England.
Lara, who dislocated the little finger on his right hand in the first Test six weeks ago, was advised to rest for 10 days after his record innings of 400 not out in the final Test in Antigua.
Heath Streak Digs In Heels
Former captain Heath Streak and batsman Grant Flower, the two most senior rebelling Zimbabwe white cricketers, yesterday rejected a latest effort at conciliation by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The ZCU made an offer Thursday of a “mediation mechanism” that might resolve a strike which is causing immense damage to the sport and to racial harmony within it. The ZCU suggested independent arbitration and mentioned a prominent Zimbabwe businessman Much Masunda as mediator. Masunda runs an organization set up for such purposes.
In return the players were expected to turn out for practice and to make themselves available for selection to the national side that will play Sri Lanka in the third of five international matches at Harare Sports Club tomorrow. Streak and Flower turned down the proposal outright.
