Inzamam, Mushtaq and Saeed record statements (1 November 1998)

1 November 1998

Inzamam, Mushtaq and Saeed record statements

By Our Reporter

LAHORE, October 31: Three Pakistan cricket team members Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmad on Saturday recorded their statements before the inquiry commission.

All the three players denied any personal knowledge about the alleged match fixing by any team member. They said that their information was limited to what was printed in press.

At one stage during the proceedings the commission said that every body seemed to be protecting each other. It said that from the hue and cry raised over the issue which led to the establishment of the commission it could be concluded that some people must be involved in betting.

The commission said that it would prosecute those whose statements before it turn out to be false. It expressed its annoyance at the fact that witnesses seemed to be contradicting their statements made before a probe committee constituted by the cricket board.

The commission, comprising Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum, adjourned further proceedings till November 10 after it felt that Inzamam-ul-Haq was confused about certain incidents and that he should be given time to recoup his memory. The commission deferred the statement of Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Majid Khan till the next date of hearing. It was assisted by PCB legal adviser Ali Sabtain Fazli.

The commission asked Inzamam if the team took oath before a one-day match in South Africa during a triangular series. The batsman said he did not remember. He said that oath was once taken before a match in Sharjah but he did not clearly remember about any such incident in South Africa.

The commission said that it was hard to believe that a person could forget such an unusual incident. It said that all other players in their statements had mentioned taking the oath there. The judge asked Saeed Anwar to help his colleague but Inzamam again said that he was not sure about the oath taking.

Replying to another question, Inzamam said that there was some altercation between Rashid Latif, Basit Ali and Saleem Malik in Zimbabwe before a match but they did not fight. It was over the question of toss. Asked about the allegations levelled by Australians against Saleem Malik, he said that he knew only what was reported in the press.

Inzamam said that he was on good terms with former manager Intikhab Alam. The commission asked then why did the former manager mention his name as one of those players who on occasions deliberately played bad. Inzamam said that he did not know why Intikhab gave such a statement. Asked about the allegations of match fixing during the Singer Cup of 1994, Inzamam said that the matches were not fixed. He said that Pakistan lost to Australia because the wicket was not good.

Asked about an alleged bookie Saleem Parvez, Inzamam said that he knew him as a former cricketer who played first class cricket. He said that Saleem Parvez, who is also a former banker, was seen in Sri Lanka during the Singer Cup in 1994. The batsman said that he did not know if the alleged bookie stayed in the same hotel where the team was staying but that he was seen there on a couple of occasions. He said that he did not see him meeting Mushtaq or Saleem Malik.

SAEED ANWAR: The commission said that Saeed Anwar was among those few people whom no one accused of betting. It said that it expected Saeed to tell truth even to the detriment of his friends.

Saeed Anwar said that he was never contacted by any team-mate regarding bribery and only once by a private person during the Singer Cup in Sri Lanka . He said that he received a couple of anonymous phone calls offering bribe and the incident was reported to the then captain Rashid Latif.

Asked whether he had doubts about any match, the Pakistan opener said that he felt on two occasions that the matches were fixed, once against Australia in Singer Cup and the other time in Sharjah. But, he added that Pakistan won the match in the Gulf and he later felt ashamed of suspecting his team-mates. He said that it was the only time he was associated with betting in the press and he was very nervous during the match.

Asked about the reason for suspicion, the batsman said that it was based on the press reports.

Saeed said that he was once sent a message through a 12th man, Zahid Fazal, to play safe during a Singer Cup match. He denied that he was asked to get himself out as the PCB adviser said that they were told by Javed Burki. Regarding this match, the batsman agreed that his brother told him that he was threatened with dire consequences if the former made a statement before the cricket board.

He said that he refused to give a statement in Lahore regarding this match. He denied that he was ever called to give a statement in Karachi and he had refused because of threats to his brother. The commission said that Javed Burki had said so. The batsman said that he was prepared to confront Javed Burki in the court.

The opener said that he had told Javed Burki to ask the 12th man about the message sent to him and he should be confronted with Mr Burki on this issue in the court.

Regarding the quarter-final in Bangalore, Saeed said that Wasim Akram was unfit from the time when the World Cup started. Replying to a question, he said that in his opinion Akram was not fit enough to play the match. He said that Wasim tried to recover during the two days preceding the quarter-final.

Mushtaq Ahmad said that he was acquainted with the alleged bookie Saleem Parvez and that they had played first class cricket together.

The leg-spinner denied that he and Salim Malik received $100,000 each from Saleem Parvez during the Singer Cup in the latter's hotel room. He said that he had bowled well in that match against Australia. How did the bowler know which match he was talking about ? the PCB legal adviser asked him. The adviser said that he had not mentioned any match in his question.

The bowler said that he had read Saleem Parvez's statement and had come prepared to the court. He said that he knew which matches were being discussed so he automatically talked about it. The commission said that Saleem's statement was recorded in camera. The bowler said that it was published in two Urdu newspapers. The bowler said that he also guessed about the match because it was the only time Pakistan lost during the tournament. The commission correcting the bowler said that Pakistan also lost to Sri Lanka. The bowler agreed but, he added, that he played well throughout the tournament. The commission said that the bowler seemed to be giving a wrong statement.

Replying to a question, the leg-spinner said that the players avoided discussing controversial issues in the dressing room to keep the atmosphere pleasant.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)