Rashid cleared of racism but set to sue ACB

The World Cup was plunged further into tumult last night by a race row. Rashid Latif, the Pakistan wicketkeeper, threatened legal action against the Australian Cricket Board after he was cleared of making a racist comment towards his counterpart, Adam Gilchrist.

The tournament has been dogged by controversy since well before it began last weekend but the latest development is potentially the most serious for the sport. Earlier in the day, the dispute looked as though it had been diluted when Rashid was exonerated of any offence under the International Cricket Council's code of conduct.

Both sides seemed to have resolved their differences after Rashid had denied making an obscene and racist comment to Gilchrist towards the end of a game which Australia won by 85 runs.

But, as he was about to leave Johannesburg with the rest of his team yesterday, Latif said: "I'm just waiting for the go-ahead from the team management and then I will proceed taking legal action against the Australian Cricket Board.

"They have tarnished my image and put me under pressure. The last 24 hours have been very stressful and they don't appreciate what my family have been through. I'm not a racist. I had a very good relationship with Adam Gilchrist in the past, but I can't believe what he's done. He levelled baseless allegations against me and I'm very upset."

The Pakistan management allowed Rashid time to calm down but immediately supported him. Their team spokesman, Samiul Hasan, said: "We'll do whatever he's comfortable with, but the Pakistan board are prepared to back him all the way through the legal process. This has been a dreadful time for him.

"It would have been a stigma he would have to carry for the rest of his life... We'll bring the case wherever we have to, whether that's in South Africa, Australia or Morocco."

The Australian Cricket Board said it could make no comment until a writ had been issued. It lodged the initial complaint after Gilchrist drew the notice of the match umpires to what he claimed had been said. Video evidence picked up the adjective "white" but no noun to follow it.

The case at first seemed reminiscent of that brought against Gilchrist's colleague Darren Lehmann last month. Lehmann was banned for five matches, which he has now served, after shouting obscene and racial abuse – which he later admitted – following his dismissal in a one-day match against Sri Lanka.

Gilchrist said: "I was shocked by the comment I believe I heard but I was more than comfortable with the process followed by the ICC and fully accept the outcome. I've shaken hands with Rashid and Waqar Younis [Pakistan's captain] and I'm happy to say the issue is totally closed. Rashid and I have had a fantastic playing relationship and friendship over the years."

Lloyd said that, taken in its entirety, he had decided there was not sufficient evidence to prove the allegation. If Rashid now pursues a claim through the courts it will only serve to bring closer a divide in the cricket along racial lines, which the ICC has feared for years.