PCB chief, players snub MacLaurin

Karachi, Oct 16: PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia termed his English counterpart Lord MacLaurin's statement as disappointing and out of place.

Talking to Dawn from Mangla, the PCB boss said: "It is a highly illtimed statement coming from a responsible official of the board in the background that his team has just arrived in Pakistan."

The general didn't suppress his frustration while saying: "If we don't step into others jurisdiction, we don't want others to enter in ours."

The general was reacting to MacLaurin's statement in which he has called for life bans on six Pakistan players, including Wasim Akram, because they were still under suspicion of match-fixing.

Pakistan vice-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and former captain Wasim Akram also expressed their dismay at MacLaurin's statement. "His statement will trigger a controversy which is avoidable. England are here for the first time in 13 years and the focus should be on cricket rather than politics."

Saeed Anwar, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmad and Akram Raza were not available for comments.

General Tauqir Zia said Pakistan conducted a detailed inquiry into match-fixing allegations. He said the fresh request for inquiry into accusations relating to World Cup had nothing to do with the International Cricket Council (ICC) or anyone else.

"This inquiry has not been requested on any pressure. We have wanted the inquiry so that there is no ambiguity left. This inquiry should not be mixed up with the previous one," he said.

Former Test fast bowler Chris Lewis has also levelled allegations of match-fixing against his three England team-mates and the general said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should find the truth into those claims rather than diverting the issue towards Pakistan.

"The people want to know what happened on that front. Pakistan has set the example for others to follow," he said, adding: "The PCB will go all the way to defend its players found innocent in the scandal."

Wasim Akram, termed MacLaurin's statement as `negative tactics'.

"It is a belated effort of the ECB chief to put psychological pressure on the Pakistan team. What he doesn't know that these statements bring the players closer.

"I don't want to comment on the punishment recommended by Justice Qayyum, but I take MacLaurin's statement as an insult and shame," Akram said from Lahore.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, speaking from Multan, advised MacLaurin to read the Qayyum Commission report carefully. "I have not been penalized because of my suspected involvement in match-fixing. According to the Judge, I have been fined for hiding facts.