Match Fixing News
 

Mahmood asks players to forget 'Outlook' story, concentrate on cricket

 CALCUTTA: The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Khalid Mahmood, had concern and anger written all over his face on Monday following the reproduction of testimonies given by former and current Pakistan players before the Judicial Commission back home. Mahmood, who arrived here on Sunday to also attend an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, held a closed-door meeting with the players. Later, Mahmood confirmed to 'The News' that the PCB would be taking up the matter officially with Mr Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum, of the Commission. "This is an absurd situation. I think this thing has gone too far. I don't know who is responsible for leaking the documents to the Indian publication. Anyway I am going to take up this matter after this match as such things can't be allowed to happen." Mahmood stated that he had told the players to forget about the 'Outlook' report and just concentrate on cricket. "But this is not going to be easy. The players, too,
are humanbeings. How much can they take? It is a bad situation for them. It is totally unfair to torture them like this when even the Judicial Commission has not reached a conclusion." To a query, he said he had not read the Outlook report as yet but added that he was not sure if what had been reproduced by the magazine was exactly what had been said before the commission. The PCB chairman described the report as a calculated attempt by some elements to demoralise the Pakistan team. Mahmood was seen having a prolonged conversation with Chief Executive Majid Khan after he was handed over a copy of the magazine. It's no secret that both differ on the match-fixing and betting issue. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram was more cautious but did admit that he and other players were shocked by the fact that an Indian publication had got hold of testimonies and depositions made before a Pakistan commission. "These were not even carried in the Pakistan press. It is shocking for everyone." Wasim stated that he had been in touch with his lawyers back home to find out what must be the next legal step. "I am not going to tolerate such humiliation. We are here to play cricket and do well for the country, but we have this controversy right in the middle of the tour. The players will have to be super heroes to give their best on the field." Wasim stated it was not a question of why the players must feel offended or fear anything when they were not guilty of any wrongdoing. "It is the embarrassment that we have to face in a foreign country. Have you had a look at the 'Outlook' cover? It is as if Pakistan cricket and players are corrupt and nothing else. No one has bothered to write about the positive aspects of this tour."Saleem Malik, Ijaz Ahmed and Waqar Younis, too, could not hide their anger over the the Outlook report. "We are still to be proved guilty. Our lawyers are still to cross examine the accusers and check these testimonies which are supposed to be confidential. And yet they have been published in an Indian publication in the middle of the tour. This is just too much," they said.
 
 

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