KARACHI: Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has threatened to sue former Pakistan coaches Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed for defamation unless they apologise for suggesting his performance in Australia may have been linked to bookmakers.

Akmal said on Saturday Alam and Javed should substantiate their allegations or make a public apology to him.

“I am fed up with these allegations. My family is disturbed. I go out and people hoot me and I am mentally disturbed. I want to clear this unwarranted stigma with my name,” he told Reuters.

“I want an apology from these people. I will be speaking to the chairman of the board about this as they are employees of the board. If they don't apologise I intend to go to court in my personal capacity.”

The pair's statements caused an uproar in Pakistan when video recordings of the inquiry committee proceedings were leaked to a television channel this week.

“The point is (if) these people suspected me of deliberately under-performing why did they keep on selecting me for other matches?” Akmal said.

Akmal said it was about time someone took action against people making baseless allegations of match-fixing or the ordeal for Pakistani players would never end.

Alam and Javed were removed as team coaches after the Australian tour but given top positions in the national cricket academy by the board.

Updated at: 2333 PST, Saturday, May 22, 2010

LAHORE: Rejecting charges of match fixing labelled against him, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal has said that he has always given his best while playing for the country.

"I have always worked hard for Pakistan and will play for the country. No one has the right to disgrace my nation. I feel bad for my parents, who watch the news like everyone else," Akmal said.

"I have told the Pakistan Cricket Board whatever I had to and I am sure that the board will look into it," he added.

Akmal, who has been accused of match fixing by former team officials, including coach Intikhab Alam, said he wants to prove all allegations being labelled against him wrong through his performance during this winter's tour of Australia.
Source Geo.Tv