August 23, 2006	Wednesday	Rajab 27, 1427

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LONDON, Aug 22: Pakistan's one-day match against Middlesex on Thursday has been thrown into doubt following the fallout over the tourists’ fourth Test forfeiture against England.

The players could opt to skip the match in a show of support for captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in his International Cricket Council (ICC) disciplinary hearing in London on Friday, while a partial boycott, with some players opting out to show backing for their skipper, is also an option.

If Inzamam is banned by the ICC there are fears that Pakistan may pull out of Monday's Twenty20 international and subsequent five-match one-day series against England in protest.

Pakistan are scheduled to practice at Lord's on Wednesday ahead of the 50-over contest at Uxbridge, west London, the following day.

Tour manager Zaheer Abbas was guarded on Tuesday when asked if the Middlesex match was still on, saying: “There is an itinerary in front of us so at the moment we will be playing.

“We have had discussions on the matter but we have not reached any conclusions yet.”

Inzamam faces charges of ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute for his part in the events that saw Pakistan forfeit the fourth Test against England at The Oval on Sunday following his side's refusal to take the field after tea having been penalised five runs for illegally altering the condition of the ball.

His case will be heard by the ICC's chief match referee, Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka, and Pakistan batting great Zaheer admitted: “We would like to have that meeting as soon as possible.

“That is the most important thing for us and our main focus is on that.

“But we realise that Mr Madugalle has to come all the way from Sri Lanka and that is why we have to wait until Friday.”

Pakistan have been keen to stress the improved state of their cricket relations with England during the course of this tour.

But what had been seen primarily as a dispute between the tourists and the on-field umpires, notably Australia's Darrell Hair, took a new turn on Tuesday following reports that England coach Duncan Fletcher had gone to match referee Mike Procter's room before play on Sunday.

However, an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman said no discussions between Fletcher and Procter took place because Procter was not in his room.

But Zaheer, a team-mate of Procter's at English county Gloucestershire during the 1970s, said of Fletcher's visit: “There was no need for him to go whether he spoke to him or not.”

Meanwhile the ECB spokesman added: “We can confirm that no complaint about the match ball was registered. There were no complaints lodged about anything at all.”

Pakistan believe the lack of any television footage showing evidence of wrongdoing will help clear Inzamam of a charge that could see him fined of between 50 and 100 percent of his match fee and/or be given a one Test or two One-day International (ODI) ban.

“People commentating on (host broadcaster) Sky have said on live television they do not have any footage at all,” said Zaheer.

“If they thought we were cheats they could have shown this ball to the press, media and television people.

“Why did they not show it on the TV? That is why the Pakistan team is so confident.”

If found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute Inzamam faces a ban of between two and four Test matches or four to eight ODI matches.

An estimated 400,000 pounds was lost in gate receipts alone by the ECB because of the Oval Test's premature end, although the total sum is likely to be far greater when broadcast and sponsor payments are taken into account.

But the losses on that match are dwarfed by the projected 10 million pounds the ECB is set to lose if Pakistan pull out of the one-day series, due to start at Cardiff a week on Wednesday.

Nevertheless the ECB remained optimistic on Tuesday, their spokesman saying: “From our perspective we are very hopeful that the one-day series will go ahead as planned.”—AFP