Akram plans fine appeal

Akram: Seeking to clean up his tarnished reputation

Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram is considering an appeal against a fine imposed on him following the Justice Qayyum
match-fixing inquiry.

Akram was fined 300,000 rupees (£3,700) for failing to co-operate with the investigation.

No specific allegations were proved against him, but the Qayyum report, which was published in May, described Akram as "not above board".

Former Test players Salim Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman were given life bans after being found guilty of match-fixing.

Four others, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saeed Anwar, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq were also fined but they, along with Akram, remain members of the national team.

The Agence France Presse quotes Akram as saying: "I received a show cause notice from the Pakistan Cricket Board and will consult my lawyer before appealing against the fine."

Malik, meanwhile, has asked the Pakistan Board to lift his ban and claims he was made a scapegoat.

Petition

A petition filed by another lawyer, Qadir Khan Mandokhail, calling for those named in the report to be jailed has been dismissed by the Sindh High Court, according to reports.

The court ruled that Qadir was seeking "personal publicity" and he was fined 10,000 rupees.

"I'm happy and relieved, but it's sad that people try to get publicity by disturbing their national heroes," Akram commented.

"If two or three people get such treatment, then no-one else will dare."

Akram, Saeed, Waqar and Inzamam are all in the Pakistan squad for the ICC Knockout Trophy event in Kenya next month.

"We have a good team and will do well," Akram added.