Court threat for Atherton England v South Africa, 1996 World Cup Shaun Pollock dismisses Atherton, World Cup 1996 The past could return to haunt England opener Michael Atherton when he arrives in Pakistan later this month. Journalist Asghar Ali is threatening legal action against Atherton, unless he makes a written apology for a remark he made during the 1996 World Cup. Atherton, then England captain, was irritated by a question from Ali following the team’s defeat by South Africa and asked: “Can someone get this buffoon out of here?” Ali alleges that his reputation was damaged by the insult and has given Atherton 10 days to send him an apology or he will pursue the matter in the courts. “My personal life, my professional life and my financial life has been affected,” he told the Agence France Presse. Wedding off He also claims his then fianceé called off their wedding because she did not want to be married to a ‘buffoon’. Atherton will not be involved in the three one-day internationals, the first of which takes place in Karachi next Tuesday. But he will open the batting in the Test series, which gets under way next month. Ali is vice-president of the Pakistan Sports Journalists’ Association and says he is writing a book about the incident called “Buffoon: You or Me?” He added: “I have talked to many international cricket captains, including Hansie Cronje and Ranatunga, about Atherton and their comments are in this book. “I want to publish the book when the matter has been completed.”

Court threat for Atherton

Shaun Pollock dismisses Atherton, World Cup 1996

The past could return to haunt England opener Michael Atherton when he arrives in Pakistan later this month.Journalist Asghar Ali is threatening legal action against Atherton, unless he makes a written apology for a remark he made during the 1996 World Cup.

Atherton, then England captain, was irritated by a question from Ali following the team’s defeat by South Africa and asked: “Can someone get this buffoon out of here?”

Ali alleges that his reputation was damaged by the insult and has given Atherton 10 days to send him an apology or he will pursue the matter in the courts.

“My personal life, my professional life and my financial life has been affected,” he told the Agence France Presse.

Wedding off

He also claims his then fianceé called off their wedding because she did not want to be married to a ‘buffoon’.

Atherton will not be involved in the three one-day internationals, the first of which takes place in Karachi next Tuesday.

But he will open the batting in the Test series, which gets under way next month.

Ali is vice-president of the Pakistan Sports Journalists’ Association and says he is writing a book about the incident called “Buffoon: You or Me?”

He added: “I have talked to many international cricket captains, including Hansie Cronje and Ranatunga, about Atherton and their comments are in this book.

“I want to publish the book when the matter has been completed.”