KARACHI, Aug 7: Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Anil Dalpat Wednesday refused an offer to be a minor beneficiary of the upcoming Morocco tri-series tournament, and accused former captain Imran Khan of sabotaging his career.
“I would not accept an offer of being minor beneficiary and it was because of Imran Khan that I played less cricket than... I deserved,” Dalpat told reporters at National Stadium.
The 38-year-old keeper, only one of two Hindus to play for Pakistan, was among six former national players who were going to be given around US$13,000 each at the one-day tournament to be played at Tangier from Aug 12.
The Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), organisers of cricket in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and the event in Morocco, give handsome amounts to former players from the sub-continent for their services to the game.
But Dalpat said he was still bitter over the way his career ended.
“I was made a scapegoat because of a tussle between Imran and the Mohammad brothers, and had I been given a fair chance I would have played more,” he said.
Four of the Mohammad brothers played for the national team and their family is very influential in Pakistani cricket circles.
Dalpat scored just 167 runs in nine Tests for Pakistan and claimed 25 wickets behind the stumps. In 15 One-day Internationals he scored 87 runs and claimed 15 victims.
The Pakistan Cricket Board, which recommends names to the CBFS, said it had not heard from Dalpat but would not announce a replacement.
Imran, who heads a political party, brushed aside the allegations of sabotaging Dalpat’s career as “ridiculous”.
“I don’t know why his (Dalpat’s) memory has been jogged now, and how come he raised this after such a long time,” Imran told AFP.
“I don’t want to say much on that because it doesn’t suit my stature.”
As one of Pakistan’s most successful captains, Imran led his country to their only World Cup win, in Australia in 1992.
He led Pakistan in 48 Tests for 14 wins and eight losses, while in 139 one-dayers he had a record of 75 wins and 59 losses.—AFP
