Pakistani eight face prosecution by petition

A Pakistani court has summoned eight Test cricketers sanctioned in a judicial inquiry into alleged match-fixing to answer a petition from a supporter of the game, calling for them to face criminal charges.

A Pakistani court has summoned eight Test cricketers sanctioned in a judicial inquiry into alleged match-fixing to answer a petition from a supporter of the game, calling for them to face criminal charges.

Court officials in Karachi said yesterday that Justice S A Rabbani, of the provincial Sindh High Court, issued orders on Tuesday for Salim Malik, Ata-ur-Rehman, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Mushtaq Ahmad and Akram Raza to appear before him on 25 September.

"Since their involvement has been proved in the judicial investigations, criminal action should be constituted against these players," petitioner Abdul Karim Mandukhel, a lawyer, was quoted as telling the court.

His petition also said the players should be banned from playing competitive cricket.

The eight men were punished by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in May on the recommendation of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum who led an inquiry into allegations of betting and match-fixing in Pakistan cricket.

Malik and Rehman were banned for life and fined one million rupees (£12,000) each while the fines against the other six ranged from 100,000 to 300,000 rupees.

According to a PCB spokesman, the Board has asked the six active cricketers to acknowledge whether they accepted the fines or would challenge the action before a court.

"If the players decide not to appeal against the fines, the money will be deducted from their tour fee before next month's ICC trophy," the spokesman said.