Trott denies taunting Akmal over spot-fixing allegations

LEEDS - England batsman Jonathan Trott has denied taunting Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal over spot-fixing allegations in the first one-day international (ODI), in which Akmal had reacted angrily to some comment made by Trott and the umpire had to intervene.

“‘I haven’t said anything (to Kamran since). I didn’t think there was much need (to apologize) -I didn’t say anything that extraordinary,” the Dawn quoted Trott, as saying.

Calling the incident “a mountain out of a molehill,” Trott stressed it had nothing to do with the match-fixing allegations that have resulted in three Pakistan players being provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) under its anti-corruption code.

“Not at all, nothing like that. Whatever is going on in the background is none of our business. We don’t talk about it on the field,” Trott claimed, adding, “We don’t have any grudges or anything. We just play cricket. The last thing you want is to be dragged down on the field. It’s important we project a good image and play within the rules, hard but fair.”

Akmal, who made 53 in the opening one-dayer against England, is also reportedly under investigation for “spot-fixing allegations.”

England captain Andrew Strauss supported his player, saying that Trott did not cross the mark.

“There weren’t any words that were particularly scolding out there, and the umpires did a good job to cool it all down again… The players themselves managed to get on with it, which was important, Strauss said, adding, “It was nothing I felt particularly concerned about, just one of those situations where a fielder says something and the batsman bites.” (ANI)