Match Fixing News

Ata signs yet another affidavit to withdraw all charges against Wasim

KARACHI: The sworn statement of Ataur Rehman, implicating Wasim Akram in the match-fixing and betting racket, has fallen apart as he has also signed an affidavit in London distancing himself from the allegations he has made against his former captain. 'The News' has learnt that immediately after the Australia Test series, Ata held a meeting with Wasim in London at which he signed a affidavit saying whatever he had alleged in his earlier affidavit was baseless.  Sources say that this development took place when Wasim went on a short visit to London in mid October, where his wife was also present. During this visit, Ata agreed to meet Wasim and Huma in London and discuss with them the affidavit he had submitted before the judicial inquiry commission of the Lahore High Court, probing into allegations of match-fixing and betting in Pakistan cricket. In his earlier affidavit which he owned upto in an in-camera session with Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum in the presence of the Pak Cricket Board Chairman Khalid Mahmood, he has alleged that on the 1994 tour of New Zealand, Wasim paid him an 'x' amount of money to bowl badly in a One day International in Christchurch. However, the value of this affidavit has now in all probabilty become nil, after Ata signed the fresh affidavit denying all charges he made against Wasim and also disowning his earlier statement. What Ata has exactly written in his fresh affidavit is not known, but sources say he flew from Lahore to London to meet Wasim on a ticket sent to him by the former Pakistan captain. Sources say at the meeting, Ata was told to disown his earlier affidavit and stop telling lies. After Ata signed the fresh affidavit which is said to have been endorsed by a London magistrate, Wasim has kept the original copy with himself which in all probability would be submitted by him before the Judicial Commission very soon to discredit the sworn statement of Ata against him. Sources say Ata, the former
Pakistan fast bowler is now regretting what he has done and has sought help from his friends. Ata, whose wife is settled in London, is also said to have told his close ones that he was fed up with the whole affair and wanted to leave cricket and settle down in London with his family.

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