LAHORE, July 21: A civil court on Monday summoned former Pakistani cricket great Wasim Akram on charges he damaged Muslim sentiment for posing in a liquor advertisement.

Judge Asma Tehsin said Wasim should appear in person before the court next month to respond to the allegations.

The 37-year-old Wasim, the world’s top wicket-taker in the one-day version of the game, retired from international cricket in May.

In an illustrious career Wasim, who was a member of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning team, also took more than 400 wickets in Test matches.

The petition, filed by civilian Mohammad Fayyaz last year, demands a public apology from Wasim and damages of 25,000 rupees (US$400).

Wasim, who denies having pitched for an alcoholic beverage, is one of eight international players shown in television and magazine advertisements for Royal Stag liquor in India.

“Liquor is banned in Islam and Wasim as a celebrated person has hurt Islam’s religious sentiments,” the petitioner’s lawyer Ansar Mahmood Bajwa told AFP.

“The ad still runs on international sports channels and should be stopped immediately.”—AFP