(31 Jul 1996) English/Nat
One of the most bitter legal battles in the history of cricket has ended in Britain with victory for the former Pakistan cricket captain, Imran Khan.
Khan was found not to have libelled former England cricket stars Ian Botham and Allan Lamb in a London High Court case that is likely to cost the plaintiffs up to half a million pounds ($750-thousand dollars) in legal costs.
Botham and Lamb had accused Imran Khan of libelling them by calling them racist, low class and, in the case of Botham, a cheat.
After two and a half weeks in court and a bitter legal dispute that has seen the very game of cricket on trial, the end came quickly.
Imran Khan — and his wife, Jemima — could barely conceal their relief as they stepped out of the High Court into a barrage of press photographers.
The libel suit, believed to have cost around half a million pounds in legal fees, ended in victory for Imran after a jury took four hours to throw out accusations that he libelled two of Britain’s former test stars.
The jury accepted Imran Khan’s defence that the libel suit was hollow.
His lawyer argued Ian Botham and Allan Lamb’s allegations that Imran Khan had called them racists in an Indian magazine — India Today — were ill-founded, as Imran Khan had, he said, been misquoted.
The defence lawyer also contested Botham’s claim that Imran Khan described him as a cheat in an article in Britain’s Sun newspaper — saying that ball-tampering, though technically a breach of cricket rules, was an accepted practice amongst cricketers.
Imran Khan — who is now dedicating himself to a cancer hospital he set up in Pakistan and a new political group, the Justice Party — said he was just relieved it was all over.
SOUNDBITE:
Could I just say something in two minutes. Basically, I’m overjoyed. I thank the Almighty that whatever I’ve been saying for two years, I feel vindicated that I never called anyone a racist, an underclass or a cheat and that has come true and I’m sad that it had to come to this court.
SUPERCAPTION: Imran Khan, former captain of Pakistan cricket team
He said the case had put great pressure on his wife Jemima, who is pregnant.
SOUNDBITE:
And also that this awful issue of ball tampering I hope that once and for all it is, the ICC ( International Cricket Conference) deals with it. I also am happy that the Pakistani cricketers have been vindicated because they’ve been called cheats throughout and I’ve warned the ICC to clarify the issue and I can say I’m really happy the way Jemima coped with this because it has taken a … there was a tremendous amount of pressure on her. Thank you.
(Question: What do you suppose Ian Botham felt?)
I feel very sad about the whole thing. I never wanted this to happen in the first place.
SUPER CAPTION: Imran Khan, former captain of Pakistan cricket team
Imran and Jemima, the daughter of billionaire tycoon, Sir James Goldsmith, were pursued by press across the road and down an alley, several hundred yards to their barrister’s chambers.
The press crush was the sort normally reserved for the Princess of Wales — who recently visited the Khans in their home in Lahore, Pakistan.
The case has been avidly followed across the world — as former foes on the field became foes in the court room.
Ian Botham and Allan Lamb both left the High Court by a back exit.
In a brief statement, Botham said he was astonished by the verdict.
SOUNDBITE:
SUPER CAPTION: Ian Botham, former England bowler
Botham and Lamb could now face up to half a million pounds in costs.
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