'Direct evidence' points to Salim (6 December 1998)

6 December 1998

'Direct evidence' points to Salim

By Rizwann Ahmed in Karachi

INVESTIGATORS probing corruption in Pakistan cricket have found enough evidence to recommend action against the former national captain Salim Malik, it was reported in Lahore.

Ali Sibtain Fazli, a lawyer for the Pakistan Cricket Board, said: "There is enough direct evidence against Salim Malik. I don't know what the judicial commission judge will do, but with whatever has come against him there's more than sufficient to prove his involvement in betting and match-fixing."

Fazli said the two Australian players Mark Taylor and Mark Waugh, looking directly at Malik during a cricket board hearing in early October, testified he offered them bribes when they toured Pakistan in 1994-95.

Fazli added that a bookmaker, Salim Pervaiz, had admitted he paid £60,000 to Salim Malik to fix a Singer Cup one-day international against Australia in 1994-95 in Sri Lanka. He said Pakistan had lost the game by about 20 runs, and the allegations had been confirmed by what he termed "circumstantial collaboration."

Malik, who has played county cricket for Essex, took five wickets yesterday, but he failed in his usual role as a batsman as the Lahore City Cricket Association finished on 188 for four against Zimbabwe in Lahore.

Malik, who was aiming to regain his Test spot after his failure against Australia, was bowled by the occasional left-arm spinner Grant Flower for nine. Zimbabwe were earlier dismissed for 394, bolstered by Murray Goodwin's superb 148.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)