Imran to sue Sarfraz over allegations

Karachi: Cricketer turned politician Imran Khan yesterday vowed to take legal action against his former team-mate, Sarfraz Nawaz for damaging the credibility of his cancer hospital and accusing him of gambling.

Khan, 54, who launched the Shaukat Khanum Hospital after captaining Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup title, has been accused of making money from the hospital funds used for treatment of poor patients and gambling on cricket by Nawaz.

"I will sue him for defamation in Pakistan and England. He is hitting directly at the cancer hospital and has caused lot of harm to Pakistan cricket," Khan said.

"Sarfraz is a discredited person and has no credibility," he added. "But Sarfraz could badly damage our charitable work at the hospital and is hitting at my integrity. I can't allow that."

Nawaz, who formed a potent new ball attack pair with Imran, has claimed on television programmes recently that Imran was making money from donations given to the cancer hospital.

Nawaz also claimed that Imran indulged in gambling in his playing days and took money from players to pick them for Pakistan.

"We have an annual deficit of 700 million rupees (Dh42.1 million) at the hospital, which we get from donations and grants and treat 70 per cent poor patients," Khan said.

"His lies and mudslinging could have a big impact on our hospital donations, our charitable work and future projects and I have to take him to court to prove him a liar," he said.

Imran said he was shocked at the allegations made by Sarfraz so blatantly. "This time he must prove it in court."