April 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1429

NEW DELHI, April 7: After being banned for five years and sued by the PCB for making allegedly defamatory comments, Shoaib Akhtar seems to have invited yet another woe for himself.

Now his former team-mates Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan are threatening to sue the banned speedster over claims he was asked to under-perform in matches.

Shoaib allegedly said in a TV programme that he was offered money to under-perform in some matches, and names of Inzamam and Moin have been linked to the allegations.

Inzamam is fuming over the claims, and says he could sue the beleaguered fast bowler.

“We are waiting to see what happens. But I and Moin are consulting and we will then decide to maybe sue him,” Inzamam said. “He (Shoaib) has tried to drag us into this match-fixing issue. We will wait and see and then do something,” the former captain added.

Inzamam feels that, given Shoaib’s long record of misbehaviour, the PCB was completely justified in handing down such a heavy ban.

“What can I say about Shoaib? His whole career has been full of controversies,” Inzamam expressed.

“Those who have played with him know him well. He has got into one scrap after another. This ban was coming because of his repeated bad behaviour.

“Yes, five years is a bit harsh but the ban is totally justified. I think the PCB should be supported for finally taking disciplinary action. But I think whatever he is saying has only got him into more trouble,” the 120-Test veteran stated.

On Imran Khan and Javed Miandad’s support for Shoaib Inzamam said that they were doing so only because they had not played with him.

“Imran never played with Shoaib. He never played in Imran’s team,” he said. “So they don’t know the sort of character he is. But those who know him will never support him.”—Agencies