29 November 1998
Saqlain Mushtaq appears before Justice Qayyum
By Our Sports Reporter
LAHORE, Nov 28: Test off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, deposing before the
one-man inquiry commission of Mr Justice Malik Muhammad Abdul Qayyum,
has denied of being involved himself or having any knowledge of
match-fixing or betting by any Pakistani cricketer.
Appearing before the learned judge on Saturday, hesaid that he could
not say with certainty whether Salim Malik's call, on which he was
run out during a match in the Sahara Cup Cricket Tournament against
India in 1997, had a bad intention. Saqlain Mushtaq was replying to a
question by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal representative Ali
Sajjad during the hearing. The lawyer had quoted national coach
Haroon Rashid of having said that Salim Malik had got Saqlain Mushtaq
run out by giving a "wrong call".
Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum asked Saqlain Mushtaq whether it was
correct that Salim Malik had given him a call to take a risky single
when Pakistan required only 15 runs for a win with three overs
remaining and there was no particular hurry to take that run?
"Yes! that call for run can be called as risky! However, I cannot say
that Salim Malik had got him run out intentionally. We have been
taking singles in the past which used to be risky. A lot many things
happen in cricket", replied Saqlain.
Ali Sajjad was representing the PCB in the absence of legal advisor
Ali Sibtain Fazli, who is reported to have gone abroad but expected
to come back to Pakistan soon.
When advocate Ali Sajjad was asked by Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum
whether the SHO, Qila Gujar Singh and the gamblers he had claimed to
have apprehended who were involved in betting and match-fixing had
come, he replied in the negative. The judge asked the PCB
representative to summon him and others again on Monday.
Ali Sajjad told this reporter that Test cricketers Zahid Fazal and
Asif Mujtaba would be summoned in next hearing. He said that Azhar
Mahmood might not be now asked to depose before the judge about
"change in batting order".
The PCB legal representative Ali Sajjad also asked Saqlain MUshtaq
about national coach Haroon Rashid's allegation that he (Saqlain) had
bowled badly against India in a one-day match at Karachi which
Pakistan had lost. The learned judge said that did not he (Saqlain)
had the reputation of being a very economical even during "slog
overs", Saqlain Mushtaq replied:
"Sir, it had also appeared in the newspapers that during the closing
stages of that match, the white ball became dirty and had to be
changed. The authorities could not provide a used ball and a new ball
had to be rubbed and that was handed over to me. Perhaps because of
its hardness, I could not bowl well and conceded runs which brought a
win to India!"
Incharge Sports Cell, Daily Jang, Shahid Sheikh was the only other
person, besides Saqlain Mushtaq, who appeared before the inquiry
commission on Saturday.
The learned judge asked him (Shahid Sheikh) to consult his record and
depose before the court about an interview in which Mr Khalid Mahmood
had been quoted as having said that he had "some information" about
the match-fixing and betting being done by the Pakistani cricketers.
"Sir, I have gone through my record and read the report of my
newspaper thoroughly. I want to bring on record that during a Jang
Forum (not an interview) in which Intikhab Alam and some others were
also present, Mr Khalid Mahmood (who was member of the PCB and not
chairman as he is now), he had stated that he had some knowledge
about match-fixing and betting being done by some Pakistani Test
cricketers. Moreover, he had said that if the PCB orders a probe, he
will pass on the information to that committee", said Shahid Sheikh
in unambiguous words.
The inquiry commission will hold the next hearing on Nov 30.
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Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)