Even as uncertainty prevails over his selection for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand and the 2011 World Cup, Pakistan's discarded wicketkeeper, Kamran Akmal, says he was never bothered by allegations of spot fixing and match fixing against him. "I have never taken these allegations seriously or to heart, but yes they have affected my family and our family life," Akmal said on Thursday.
"In my eight years of playing for Pakistan , I have never ever seen any fellow player try to lose a match or do something deliberately," he said.
Akmal's selection for the New Zealand tour and the World Cup preliminary squad will depend on whether the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption unit gives clearance to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for his selection.
The PCB has also formed its own integrity committee after the spot-fixing allegations against Pakistani players to assess the background of all players before they are allowed to play for the national team.
The national selection committee called a meeting this week in which they finalised the list of 40 probables for the New Zealand tour and the World Cup.
Sources said the list included Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria (who was stopped by the PCB from joining the Test team in UAE for the series against South Africa ) and Rana Naved, all of whom will require clearance not only from the PCB committee but also from the ICC ACU.
Sources said that initially the ICC told the PCB not to consider Kamran Akmal and Kaneria but had now given clearance.
Akmal, who was dropped for the series against South Africa, said it was a great lesson for him and he now valued the national cap much more.
"The downside is obviously I have missed playing for my country, but on the positive side, I have spent Eid for the first time with my family after so many years because normally we have always been on tours during Eid," he added.
The wicketkeeper-batsman insisted that, although there were allegations against him, he had always played for Pakistan honestly and tried to give his best.
"It is a fact that my family gets disturbed by these allegations because they are not true. But I guess one has to live with that," he stated.
He also vowed to give his best whenever he gets an opportunity to play for Pakistan again.
"The World Cup is very important for us, specially after the disappointment of the last edition. Given the fact that it is being played in our region is also a big advantage for us. But yes it is terribly disappointing for all of us that the matches are not being held in Pakistan."
Chief selector Mohsin Khan has also confirmed that there were some players on the list of 40 who would require clearance from the ICC and PCB.
The list does not feature the three suspended players - Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamer.
