LAHORE – Desperate to revive his career, Pakistan’s discarded Test batsman Yasir Hameed has sought an unconditional and public apology from tabloid ‘News of the World’ for dragging his name into the spot-fixing scandal. Hameed has filed a formal complaint with the Press Complaints Commission of England through his legal advisor Umar Khayyam, it has been learnt.
“My client has filed the complaint after much deliberation and believes that NOTW was wrong in trying to drag him into the issue,” Khayyam said. The stylish opener was dropped from the Pakistan team last year in England, following a video recording and its transcripts released by NOTW in the midst of the spot-fixing controversy involving Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir.
The video recording showed Hameed talking on the spot-fixing issue and nodding in the affirmative when asked whether Pakistani players were involved in match fixing. Hameed later said that the newspaper’s undercover reporter had posed as an agent who wanted him to sign for a prospective sponsorship deal and the entire discussion was taped without his knowledge.
“The report was full of misrepresentation and inaccuracies. We have not asked for any financial compensation; just an unconditional and public apology so that the image of our country and my client is not tarnished,” Khayyam said. “We have pointed out that hidden cameras, clandestine listening devices and unauthorised photography was used while persistently pursuing my client and intimidating him for the meeting,” Khayyam said.
He said Yasir wanted a public ruling from the PCC, severely admonishing NOTW for planting a story which went against the code of ethics.
