Accused trio named in Test squad (28 Sep 1998)

28 September 1998

Accused trio named in Test squad

By Nelson Clare

THE three leading players caught up in Pakistan's betting and match-fixing allegations have been named in the squad for the first Test against Australia starting at Rawalpindi on Thursday.

The move comes despite a report released by the Pakistan Cricket Board three weeks ago that Salim Malik, Wasim Akram and Ijaz Ahmed should not be selected until investigations were completed into claims by three Australian players that Malik offered them a bribe to throw the Karachi Test during Australia's tour of Pakistan four years ago.

"Wasim, Salim and Ijaz are there because we have not been directed by the PCB to ignore them. Until we get definite instructions we will continue to consider them for selection," said chairman of selectors Wasim Bari.

Australia's tour officials have asked their board if the three players who made the allegations - Mark Waugh, Shane Warne and Tim May - can appear before the commission into match-fixing allegations next weekend.

Of the three, Waugh is the only one on the Pakistan tour. Warne is injured and May has retired.

In the opening tour match, captain Mark Taylor again failed with the bat but Justin Langer scored an unbeaten 101. Taylor declared the second innings at 194 for two, leaving Karachi 457 to win. At close of play on the third day of four Karachi were 11 for two.

Sachin Tendulkar hit a world record 18th one-day international hundred as India beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets in in Bulawayo on Saturday. Tendulkar hit 127 not out off 126 balls. India won by the same margin yesterday, also in Bulawayo, to take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

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