Former star Pakistan batsman Ijaz Ahmed was freed on bail on Tuesday ahead of his trial on fraud charges for allegedly giving a client bad cheques worth over one million dollars. Ahmed said he was relieved to get bail after a six-week spell in jail. "We will now follow the case as I am in the right and will fight until my name is cleared," the 40-year-old former cricketer told AFP.
"The last three months have been nightmarish." He was arrested in March accused of giving false cheques worth 10.05 million rupees (1.30 million dollars) to a client. Another plea for bail on medical grounds was rejected last month.
Ahmed, who also works in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) national academy in Lahore, played 60 Tests and 250 one-day internationals for Pakistan from 1987 to 2001, and was a member of Pakistan's World Cup winning team in 1992. After his arrest, he was admitted to a local hospital following a bout of asthma and breathing problems.
"The PCB was supportive as they believed my innocence and did not disturb my job. I am thankful to them for supporting me," he said. His lawyer Kashif Javed said the case may be heard later this month.