A Pakistani magistrate has again rejected an appeal for bail from former batsman Ijaz Ahmed, remanded in custody for two weeks over forgery charges, a lawyer said Monday. The 40-year-old was on Friday remanded for 15 days, accused of giving false cheques worth 10.05 million rupees (1.30 million dollars) to a client.
"The judicial magistrate has rejected the bail appeal... and as soon as we get a detailed judgement we will take the bail plea to the Lahore high court," Ijazs laywer Kashif Javed told AFP. The former star was arrested last month but admitted to a local hospital following a bout of asthma and breathing problems. He was again taken to hospital last Friday as his condition did not improve, laywer said.
Ijaz played 60 Tests and 250 one day internationals for Pakistan from 1987 to 2001, and was a member of Pakistans World Cup winning team in 1992. He is currently employed by the Pakistan Cricket Board as a fielding coach at the national cricket academy in the eastern city of Lahore. The former batsman has declared his innocence and vowed to take his accusers to court.