Channel 4 drops `sullied’ Akram

LONDON, JUNE 4: Former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram has been dropped by UK's Channel 4 television from its commentary team for the Englan...

LONDON, JUNE 4: Former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram has been dropped by UK’s Channel 4 television from its commentary team for the England-West Indies Test series starting later this summer, because of his involvement in match-fixing. The decision follows the publication of Justice Mohammed Qayyum’s report which pronounced Akram to be “too sullied” to ever captain Pakistan again.

Akram avoided a life ban, imposed on two of his former team mates Salim Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman, but Justice Qayyum concluded that there was enough evidence against him to “cast doubts upon his integrity.” Justice Qayyum imposed a fine of $ 5,500 on Akram and recommended that his financial affairs should be properly investigated.

It is widely believed that Akram got off too lightly. But, critical to the judgement on Akram was the withdrawal of a sworn affidavit by Ata-ur-Rehman, who had accused him of being in hawk with bookmakers during a one-day series in New Zealand in 1994. Rehman changed his evidence repeatedly and also claimed to have done so under duress.

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After Justice Qayyum’s report was made public at the end of April, Channel 4 said that it would take a decision on whether or not to allow Akram to continue his two-year contract as a commentator with them based on “the minutiae of the report.” This week Wasim Akram was persuaded that continuing with the contract would be “inappropriate” and that he must step down to “concentrate on his playing career.”

In a statement issued on Friday, Channel 4 said: “With further investigations ongoing into match-fixing allegations in a number of Test-playing countries, the issue is set to dominate the cricketing agenda throughout the summer.

“Channel 4 does not wish to compromise its ability to cover fully and fairly an issue of such fundamental importance to the game, nor does the channel want to distract attention from this summer’s West Indies series.

“After consultation with Channel 4, Wasim Akram has decided that it would be inappropriate to be part of the commentary team this summer and has asked to be released from