Crack down on bookmakers recommended

Karachi, Aug 1: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suggested to the government for a crack down on bookmakers. Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said the suggestion was made about two months ago and expected that the raids would begin in the near future.

"We have been provided with all the details of the leading bookies in Pakistan. If we manage to get hold of them, we would be able to unearth more information besides helping the game of cricket by keeping the people from harming the sport," he said.

He said he had a meeting with President Rafiq Tarar on May 25 in which he had suggested this move, arguing that it would help control the menace of match-fixing.

"Frankly speaking, match-fixing or betting cannot be eliminated. But it can be controlled.Elaborating the steps taken by the PCB, the general said mobile telephones have been banned in the dressing room and the telephone calls in the hotel would come through the team manager. He said the players have been banned from night-outs. He admitted that there have been one or two incidents where the players were reported to be attending parties. "But they were minor issues and have been tackled."

"It has been decided in principle that the Pakistan team during series' would only attend two functions - receptions by the local cricket association and Pakistan Embassy/High Commission."

To another question, Tauqir Zia said the PCB has received four audio cassettes of Salim Malik's alleged interview with News of the World. He said quality of three cassettes was very poor. However, he refused to given details of the fourth cassettes which he admitted was audible.

The general admitted that the transcripts available with the PCB were very damaging and contained Malik's remarks about the honourable judge. But he said the transcripts have so far not been provided to Justice Qayyum. He, nevertheless, said they would be made available to the judge.

Salim Malik: The PCB chairman said Salim Malik has been given 15 days to inform the board whether he was contemplating appealing against the life ban imposed on him. He said the deadline for the reply expires on Friday.

He said Malik's reply would be forwarded to Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum "because upon his recommendation, action was taken." The general dispelled impressions that Justice Qayyum's work was finished.

Salim Malik said from Lahore that he has hired former Punjab governor Shahid Hamid as his counsel. He said he would be challenging the ban, adding that his reply to the PCB show cause notice has been drafted. He said the PCB would be delivered with the reply during the next two days.