Sport - Cricket

Inzamam leaves for ICC hearing

KARACHI: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq left for London on Sunday to attend the International Cricket Council hearing, amid speculation that he may be cleared of ball-tampering charge but handed out "some punishment" for bringing the game into disrepute.

Inzamam presented a straight bat to most of the queries thrown at him by reporters but said he was keen to finish off the issue and concentrate on next month's Champions Trophy in India.

"I can't make any comments on the hearing as I'm bound by the ICC Code of Conduct. All I can say is I'm reasonably confident we will be cleared of the ball-tampering charge," he said just before leaving for London via Dubai for the hearing on September 27 and 28.

The skipper was charged with tampering the ball and bringing the game into disrepute during the Oval Test against England last month after the Pakistan refused to carry on play in protest over the decision of umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to penalise them five runs.

According to PCB sources, Inzamam and the board were mentally prepared to accept some punishment on charges of bringing the game into disrepute but not for ball tampering. — PTI

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