Mohammad Illiyas Chaudhary, the father-in-law of discarded Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal may drop the legal case against Zulqarnain Haider, who has denied him (as a fixer) naming in public, but is still angry."I wonder why I am always being projected as a match-fixer...Neither me, nor my son-in-law (Kamran Akmal, married to his daughter, Ayesha) are match fixers. It hurts me a lot. Those who have alleged us have never produced evidence", he said exclusively over telephone from Pakistan.
"I am not a bookie but owns five-six commercial malls in Pakistan", he said proudly. However, interestingly, Mohammad Illiyas admitted having "friendly links" with the former Pakistan skipper, Salim Malik, who has been life-banned (for his involvement in fixing matches) by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
"Yes, we are still friends. We were neighbours during the time when (Salim) Malik was life-banned. But is it a crime to be his friend ?", Illiyas Chaufdhary asked. "We have still maintained our old friendship", he added further.
"Kamran (Akmal) has not been dropped but is rested", the father-in-law said. "The PCB had conducted full enquiry against him and found no evidence". The 29-year-old wicketkeeper was made the vice captain of the Test squad in 2010 but was removed following allegations.
In the 2nd Test match on the 2009-10 tour of Australia, Akmal dropped four catches in the Australian innings raising doubts over his role and was questioned by the PCB.The International Cricket Council (ICC), in early September 2010, also sent an official notice to telling him that he is under investigation for allegedly fixing the Sydney Test. "He is a match-winner and will bounce back in the squad", the F-i-L opined.
