Saturday, March 31, 2007

Inzamam dismisses fixing rumours

Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam has been hurt by the reaction of Pakistan's supporters
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has denied that members of his team may have been involved in match-fixing.

Inzamam hit back at the team's critics during a news conference in Lahore, which followed their first round exit from the Cricket World Cup.

Questions have been asked about the manner of their defeats by West Indies and Ireland in the Caribbean.

"It's unfair to talk about match-fixing now after the World Cup defeats," the 37-year-old commented.

"The loss to Ireland was the most difficult day of my life. I take all the responsibility."

Inzamam accused the Pakistan media of "unnecessarily tarnishing" the team's image.

"No-one knows what the team went through after the loss to Ireland. Players live in fear of what happens if we lose. The media knows only how to attack us and not support us," he said.

It has been a tough time for me and my family
Inzamam-ul-Haq

Members of the Pakistan squad arrived home earlier this week to a hostile reception.

On Monday, Vice-captain Younis Khan was involved in an altercation with slogan-chanting fans in Karachi.

"Bring a donkey for him and ask him to sit on it and roam around the city," one irate fan as was quoted as shouting at the airport.

And there were further shouts of "Go to Hell" and "Shame" when four players, Shahid Afridi, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami and Kamran Akmal, arrived the following day.

Inzamam, meanwhile, is still hoping to continue his international career after deciding to give up the captaincy following the team's elimination from the World Cup.

Although he has retired from one-day internationals, he wants to continue playing for the team in Test matches, although that will depend on a new selection committee which has yet to be appointed after the previous three-man panel resigned.

"I took the decision to retire from one-dayers before the World Cup. One-day cricket has become a very fast game. I am only human," he explained.

Reporters were prevented from asking questions about the death of coach Bob Woolmer, who was murdered in his hotel room only hours after the match against Ireland.

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