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| Monday, 2 February 2004 |
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Pakistan court dismisses Wasim Akram case LAHORE, Pakistan, Sunday (AFP) A Pakistani judge reprimanded a man Saturday for seeking a court order to stop national cricket hero Wasim Akram from coaching Indian bowlers, and issued him a hefty fine. "Wasim has been a national hero and a legend and unnecessary inconvenience and harassment has been caused to him and the case is dismissed," civil judge Anwar Gondal said in his judgement against Syed Najmul Abbas. Gondal fined Abbas 15,000 rupees (250 dollars). Abbas filed his case in September last year after media reports that Wasim was coaching Indian bowlers and was to sign a deal to formalise this arrangement. Abbas wanted Wasim stopped, while the cricketer denied he was passing his skills on to rival India. The storm of controversy over the issue subsided when the Indian cricket board hired former Australian pacer Bruce Reid as their bowling coach in November last year. Wasim, who retired from international cricket in May last year with a world record 502 one-day and 414 Test wickets, is a television commentator in Australia where India have wrapped up a Test series and are playing a trination tournament with Australia and Zimbabwe. Pakistan's coach Javed Miandad reignited the controversy last week when he said he hoped Wasim had not given Indian batsmen tips about playing reverse swing, for which Pakistani bowlers are famous. The Pakistani media have also questioned Wasim's loyalty to Pakistan and involvement with Indian players ahead of a much-hyped series between Pakistan and India in a month's time. But Wasim has lashed back, saying he did not think it was wrong to pass advice on to any Indian bowler who approached him. He told AFP from Australia Saturday that he was pleased with the court's ruling. "I am delighted because publicity mongers have caused disturbance not only for me but for the court and such cases should not be accepted in future," Wasim said. "I can never think of passing any secrets but if a young bowler comes to seek advice, I will help him, irrespective of his nationality," said Wasim, who has admitted he helped upcoming Indian pacer Irfan Pathan. Wasim's lawyer Chowdhry Fawad Hussain told AFP that Abbas's fine would be donated to Shaukat Khanum Cancer Research hospital run by Wasim's mentor and another former cricketing great, Imran Khan. "The case was frivolous and a publicity stint against Wasim and we are delighted that it is dismissed," Fawad said. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced this week Wasim, Imran Khan and Aaqib Javed would assist Pakistan's pace bowlers before the series against India. Wasim said: "Nobody has contacted me as yet, but yes, my country comes first and if I am not busy elsewhere, I will help the fast bowlers." |
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