Wasim gives up captaincy after death threats (6 Jan 1998)

6 January 1998

Wasim gives up captaincy after death threats

By Qamar Ahmed

WASIM AKRAM, who was expected to captain Pakistan on their tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe at the end of this month, has decided to stand down following death threats to him and his family.

Last week, newspapers in Pakistan carried stories of his father Chaudhry Akram's alleged kidnapping and his release after a payment of Rupees 1.5 million in ransom (£50,000).

Wasim, 31, flew back to Pakistan from Lancashire, whom he captains next season, and though the kidnapping story was then denied he admitted that his family had received threatening phone calls and letters since Pakistan's poor performance in the Champions' Trophy in Sharjah.

"I can't sustain the pressure any more," Wasim said. "It's very sad that after serving the country with so much dedication and distinction, you get such treatment." Wasim enjoyed one of the high points of his international career last month when he led Pakistan to a 3-0 Test series win over the West Indies.

He had already been replaced as captain by wicketkeeper and former vice-captain Rashid Latif for the one-day tournament in Bangladesh later this month after dropping out with a shoulder injury, but has made it clear that he wants to continue as a player.

"It's not an easy job as the captain is always blamed for the poor performance of the team," said Wasim, who is the only player to have taken more than 300 wickets in Tests and also one-day internationals.

Threats were also made to Wasim and his family after Pakistan lost to India in the quarter-finals of the last World Cup at Bangalore in 1996. He was given police protection after callers threatened to set fire to the house. Wasim had decided to resign from the captaincy then but was dissuaded.

Last year his own team-mate, Aamir Sohail, had allegedly accused colleagues of match-fixing and bribery but, unable to prove the claims, he was banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board and fined Rupees 50,000. The ban was later lifted.

Ramiz Raja and Saeed Anwar had brief spells in charge after Wasim had to withdraw from the tour of Sri Lanka last year because of injury, but he was later restored as captain.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)