1 August 1996
Imran pulls off great escape in libel case
By Our Correspondent
As a cricketer and Pakistan captain, Imran Khan had something of a reputation for coming back from seemingly impossible situations to fashion a win.
Now the charismatic Pakistani has done it again - and against formidable opposition. Only, this time he chose the law courts, as opposed to the cricket field, to pull of his latest escape act.
In a word, Imran Khan won a contentious libel case in the London courts, after former England stars Ian Botham and Allan Lamb accused him of calling them uneducated racists in course of an interview granted to India Today journalist Shekhar Gupta.
Botham`s suit also included in its ambit a May 1994 report in Britain`s Sun newspaper, in which Imran allegedly accused Botham of ball-tampering.
The jury, however, thought otherwise - much to Imran`s delighted surprise, and Botham`s and Lamb`s total shock.
Botham and Lamb are now liable, as per the verdict, to pay court costs amounting to an estimated 500,000 pounds ($750,000). The verdict, delivered by a jury comprising five women and seven men, left the England stars very obviously shocked.
Imran had claimed in his defence that his words were taken out of context, and even apologised to the two England stars in course of the hearing.
A delighted Imran posed with pregnant wife Jemima for the media cameras after hearing the verdict. ``Darling, you were wonderful,`` the former society beauty, clad in a flowing purple dress, told her husband after hearin the verdict.
Saying that the jury had vindicated himself and his fellow Pakistani cricketers, Imran hoped that the International Cricket Council would now take up the whole issue of ball tampering.
``I`ve been vindicated," Imran said, post verdict. "I am sad because I have had to come to this court. It was not because of me. I feel very sad for Ian Botham.
``I never called anyone a racist, underclass and a cheat. I am also happy that Pakistani cricketers have been vindicated. They had been called cheats throughout.``
Imran said that more than himself, it was his pregnant wife Jemima, daughter of British tycoon Sir James Goldsmith and a leading member of the socially prominent Sloane Ranger set, who had to bear the brunt of the pressure during the 13-day hearing.
Botham, for his part, made no secret that he was flabbergasted by the verdict. ``Astonishment is a fair word," said Botham, when asked for a reaction. "I am confused as to how it went against us.One thing no one can ever accuse me of is being a racist or a cheat...I fought for my dignity and honesty.``
While Botham appeared resigned, Lamb was evidently bitter. "This is what I get for coming here and trying to clear my name," the former Test star said.
Interestingly, the jury after its first deliberation returned to report that it had failed to reach a unanimous verdict. The court then told the jury that a majority decision, of 10-2, would be acceptable. The jury then deliberated for a further five hours before returning the decision.
Much of the testimony heard over the previous 13 days, from persons as disparate as England skipper Michael Atherton and Ian Botham`s wife Kathy, centered around ball tampering. The court heard that when the surface of the ball was scratched or pitted by players using fingernails or bottle tops, it could make its behaviour unpredictable and give an advantage to the bowler.
Huge crowds were present in the public galleries to listen to leading cricketing lights expound on the subject. Among those who testified were former England opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott and Botham`s former captain David Gower. Imran`s advocate also called current England captain Mike Atherton, who admitted that ball-tampering was widespread and called for it to be legalised.
Interesingly, the verdict comes a couple of days after England was comprehensively beaten by Pakistan in the first Test of the ongoing Cornhill series at Lord`s.
Source :: Rediff On The NeT (http://www.rediff.co.in)