Stewart 'will sue to clear his name'

Alec Stewart is preparing to take legal action over the match-fixing allegations against him.

The former England cricket captain has spoken to his advisors and will decide whether to claim punitive damages after the completion of the on-going inquiry into the claims.

The inquiry is being conducted by former Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Paul Condon, who is flying to India this weekend and will interview Stewart early in the New Year.

But Stewart, who is with the England team in Pakistan preparing for tomorrow's decisive third Test, is so confident of being cleared that he is serious about suing.

Mukesh Kumar Gupta, the bookmaker and Delhi jewellery businessman, told the Indian Criminal Bureau of Investigation that he paid Stewart £5,000 for information on England's tour of India in 1992-93. The story flashed around the world, and a shocked Stewart was left with a tarnished reputation despite his vigorous rebuttals

Condon's Anti-Corruption Unit, financed by the International Cricket Conference, has already said no evidence has been unearthed to substantiate Gupta's allegations against Stewart.

Two Indian Test stars, Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma, who were exposed by Gupta, were banned for life by the Indian Cricket Board this week.

Stewart will have a break of six weeks at home between the end of the Pakistan tour and the start of the tour to Sri Lanka and wants to clear his name before England return to the sub-continent.