LAHORE: Pakistan opener Imran Farhat has decided to serve legal notice on bookmaker Mazhar Majeed, who has named four more players as being involved in spot-fixing in a video footage released by a private news television channel.
Farhat, one of the four named, said he was appalled by the bookmaker’s claims. “I just don’t know what to say. Neither is he my agent nor have I ever been involved in such things,” Farhat said.
The left-handed opener was named along with Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz and Kamran Akmal in the video. “His claims have really upset me because I have always played clean cricket. I am suing him for damages and also to clear my reputation,” Farhat said.
Farhat said he had a reputation in international cricket, being a Pakistan player. Majeed, with his unsubstantiated claims had indulged in character assassination. “I will not stand this. I don’t know about the others but I have decided to sue him and I am consulting my lawyers,” Farhat is reported to have said.
The national selectors on Tuesday dropped Farhat for the tour to New Zealand. The opener said that he was disappointed but would continue to perform in domestic cricket and try to win back his place in the side. Meanwhile, Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has slammed Majeed Majeed for his claims.
“He was just our agent and I don’t know why he is making these claims. If he is involved in bookmaking, I don’t know anything about that,” Akmal said. Akmal is one of those cricketers who is desperate to play for the country but was dropped from the team on the directives of the ICC.
