Inzamam may sue English paper

Pakistan vice-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq Tuesday admitted his concentration has been distracted after his name was once again linked to betting and match-fixing.

Talking to reporters at the National Stadium, Inzamam said he was willing to appear before any committee and face any punishment if there was any evidence to his wrong doings.

"But stories and allegations without any substance and evidence to back them up are badly affecting my cricket, my family and my social life. Although the PCB has lifted my spirits and provided me the support a player requires in tough times, fact of the matter is that it will be in the back of my mind that if I score a duck again, fingers will be pointed," Inzamam argued.

An English newspaper (Sunday Telegraph) reported earlier this week that ICC's anti-corruption united wanted to interview Inzamam after his second-ball duck in the tri-nation one-day series in England.

The PCB has said it would not release Inzamam for interview until April next year but added that the English media might have mixed up the story. Inzamam said he met PCB chief in Karachi and inquired if the ACU had written anything to the PCB. "But the chairman has 'Not'. I have also neither been called nor informed by the ACU. "I don't know from where these stories have appeared and what is the basis. Anyways, I have decided to take legal action against the newspaper and have already approached my brothers in England to engage a lawyer," Inzamam said.

The PCB said Tuesday it would assist and provide legal support to Inzamam if he approached them for help. "I have a clear mind and I have done nothing wrong. So why should my name be dragged around in such a manner. I mean batsman scores century and also get out on zero. But does it mean that every time he gets out for a duck he should be linked to match-fixing?"