Atherton pleads for dismissal of case

By Rizwan Ehsan Ali

ISLAMABAD, MAY 15. England opener Michael Atherton requested the Islamabad court on the eve of England's first Test against Pakistan at Lord's to dismiss a defamation case against him, filed by a Pakistani journalist Asghar Ali.

Asghar has made England and Wales Cricket Board as second party in the Rs. 12 million case after Atherton called him `Buffoon' during the press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after England's 1996 Cup match against South Africa.

Atherton filed a written statement, duly signed by him, through his lawyers Asghar Haider and Athar Ali Shaikh at the District Court, Islamabad on Tuesday.

``This honourable court (Dstrict Court, Islamabad) has no jurisdiction to try the present suit, as the answering defendant does not reside within its jurisdiction,'' ECB said in it's written reply. ``I would accept the decision of the honourable court.

It's a moral victory for me that at least Atherton has submitted a written reply,'' claimed Asghar said. ``I have a right to file a defamation case against Atherton in England, but at the moment I am waiting for a decision from Pakistani court,'' he warned the England opener.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : BCCI ends issue of 'anonymous calls'
Next     : Chetan Chauhan appointed manager