MATCH REPORTS
STAT SHEET
DIARY
OTHER SPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
PEOPLE
DEAR REDIFF

Akram mystery deepens by the day

Trevor Chesterfield in Centurion, South Africa

Nothing it seems has changed in the Pakistan camp as the thick smokescreen thrown around the so-called axing of Wasim Akram drew conflicting comments from the mangement and selection panel convener Salim Altaf.

Team manager Ahmed Aziz and coach Haroon Rashid were unable to agree on the official line over Akram's unavailability, and Altaf held his own counsel.

One said he had an injury, but was unsure what sort of injury it was, while the coach indicated it was a neck problem. Which could also mean it has something to do with neck cramps from cradling the telephone in his shoulder for long periods while talking to the bookies or to his lawyers.

Although the centre of an as yet unproved bribery scandal, it is the unofficial reason he has been left to kick his heels in England, escaping Lahore after abusive telephone calls which, it has been claimed, were life threatening.

Altaf was most coy when cornered in Durban over the 'Akram must prove his fitness' claim which is part of the murky depths Pakistan selection policy has found itself in as the Pakistan Cricket Board attempts to extricate itself from yet another chapter of double speak and government interference.

What has emerged, however, should not come as a surprise: Akram could still be whisked over to join his teammates along with Shahid Afridi, another surprise omission from the touring party. Whether this will be for the Tests, or ODIs following the Tests in South Africa and Zimbabwe, rests with the PCB patron and Pakistan's president, Mohammad Rafiq Tara.

As coach Haroon Rashid explained, it is not unusual to switch touring squads by including ODI specialists such as Afridi and by then, naturally, either Akram's "injury" or investigation over the bribery claims will have been sorted out, making him available as well.

Aziz was not as forthcoming as was the more urbane coach, who was one of the Pakistan troupe which played under the Kerry Packer banner 20 years ago. At Randjesfontein, where the tour opened in the picnic, caviar and champagne atmosphere of corporate tents, the publicity machine ran into further trouble. Aziz was introduced more informally to the South African print media, and he offered to "clear the air" over Akram while a beaming Dr Ali Bacher did his best to smooth over the impasse Aziz caused in the first place.

Despite the good doctor's intentions, even the managing director of the United Cricket Board (of South Africa) was unable to improve the view that Aziz was a political appointee, who was as evasive as he was during the conference when the team arrived.

All this was against the backdrop of the "party match" at the small, picturesque Nicky Oppeneheimer Oval, about 15 minutes drive from Centurion Park and 20 minutes from the Wanderers.

On open-air stage, Inzamam-ul-Haq toyed with the bowling and gave the patrons a good look at the man who, a few months ago was called a "fat potato" by spectators in Canada. This was during the Sahara Cup limited overs series against India. A slimmer version of that same batsman here opened his South African tour with a century.

One of the heroes of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup glory, Inzamam, it has to be admitted, has always been a little rotund. But he claimed he has lost about 6 kilos -- which is not much, but still a quite a sacrifice for someone who would give Mike Gatting a run when going through the menu; no doubt the barbs which led to a bat-waving confrontation with a spectator had some effect.

It was a thumping good knock: 107 off 88 balls with 10 sixes and eight fours, which kept some spectators from their salmon, caviar and champagne lunches around the UCB country 'estate'. This match has no pretentions of matching the pre-tour openers at Arundel in England. It was more to provide exercise for some and entertainment for others; although the sight of tighter strokeplay from Aamir Sohail did not go unnoticed by those there to watch the game and not knock back another glass of bubbly.

But the Akram undertones bubbled, as Inzamam felt that after his innings he had shed enough weight to earn him a few more runs on this tour. A double century, three single tons and several 50s are on his list of things to do while batting around South Africa. And all this with the serious part of the tour opening in Kimberley 48 hours later with a four day game against Griqualand West.

Coach Rashid pondered the lack of bite in the bowling attack as whispers of Akram's non-selection continued to bedevil Aziz and Altaf. New information was thrown up that Akram had turned up in London a few days earlier saying the injury story was a fabrication.

"I have not been asked by anyone to prove my fitness: not by the board or the selectors," said reports in circulation, quoting . "I want to know what it is the Pakistan Cricket Board have against me as I would like to clear my name of any charges."

The Akram saga was again fuelled by Altaf, who said that he and the PCB were under the impresssion Akram was, or is, injured and were waiting for him to prove his fitness. This was to be in a domestic match. Which is where the murky depths of this soap opera has slipped further.

Which suggest that fitness, as Akram claims, has 'never been issue'. All it has done is to futher confuse the issue.