PCB blames Inzy for Oval Test forfeiture

Lahore, Oct 19 (UNI) Distancing itself from beleagured Inzamam-ul Haq, the PCB held the Pakistan regular skipper responsible for The Oval Test forfeiture and said it was beacuse of him, the board was being asked to pay an 800,000 pound compensation.

''Inzamam is to be blamed for the forfeiture of The Oval Test because he refused to return to the field. It is because of his way of protesting the ball-tampering charges that we are being asked for a substantial compensation by the ECB,'' PCB chief Nasim Ashraf was quoted as saying by 'The News'.

Ashraf's scathing comments on the captain came close on the heels of the sacked Team Manager Zaheer Abbas' allegations that Inzy's extended dressing room sit-in to protest the ball-tampering charges against his team worsened the crisis.

Pakistan refused to take the field after fourth day's tea interval in the Test to protest umpire Darrell Hair's decision to penalise them for alleged ball tampering. The umpires later awarded the match to England.

In subsequent hearing by the ICC, Pakistan were cleared of ball-tampering charges but Inzamam was banned for four ODI for ''bringing the game into disrepute.'' The decision ruled Inzamam out of Paksitan's Champions Trophy campaign with Younis Khan doing some yes-no before taking the mantle.

Meanwhile, Ashraf maintained that it were the umpires who triggered the crisis and hence Paksitan will not pay the the 800,000 pound compensation claim by the ECB.

Ashraf also said that a ''strong worded'' letter against Hair was being drafted and would soon be sent to the ICC, seeking action against the umpire.

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