The mother of Pakistan captain Wasim Akram pleaded yesterday with angry fans not to vent their anger at the country's World Cup defeat against her son.
Pakistan's defeat by Australia triggered protests by youths who burned an effigy and posters of Akram and other top players in disgust.
Some furious fans demanded the arrest of those responsible for the defeat and called for an inquiry into match-fixing and betting allegations.
But Begum Akram Chaudhry told reporters: "When two teams play, one has to lose but the attitude of the people on Pakistan's defeat is unfortunate.
"Cricket lovers in Pakistan should now change their attitude and encourage the players for the team's better performances in the future."
She said she would meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss "why allegations like match fixing and bribery are levelled on every defeat."
"I offered prayers. I was so depressed that I could not eat my dinner," Chaudhry added.
The Pakistani skipper had to face the heat in 1996 also. His home was pelted with stones and his family received death threats after Pakistan lost to arch-rivals India in the 1996 World Cup quarter-final at Bangalore.
