Justice Qayyum to recommend bans (31 December 1998)

31 December 1998

Justice Qayyum to recommend bans

By Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, Dec 30: Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum, who heads the judicial commission investigating the charges of corruption in Pakistan cricket, admitted on Wednesday that he would be recommending bans against certain players.

"Yes, I will be recommending to President Rafiq Tarrar that certain players should be banned because their involvement has been confirmed," the honourable judge told Dawn in a telephonic conversation from Lahore.

"I have prepared my mind and I know what report I have to prepare. I do know that I would be naming some players for appropriate action," Justice Qayyum stated.

However, he refused to disclose the names and number of players he would be recommending for ban. "Just wait for a couple of weeks and you will know everything. At this stage, I can't tell you who are the cricketers who have convinced me about their involvement in match-fixing and betting."

Nevertheless, Justice Qayyum emphasised that his recommendations would be implemented. "I would like to see the recommendations executed because if they are not to be followed then what's the point of all this drill."

Justice Qayyum said the judicial commission was on the brink of making a decision. "The report would be finalized and submitted to the president within seven days after the judicial commission representatives return from Australia after re-examining the Australians."

Ali Sibtain Fazli, legal advisor of the PCB, his assistant Ali Sajjad, and Lahore High Court Registrar Abdus Salam Khawar leave for Australia on Jan 5 where they will examine Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Alan Crompton on Jan 8. They return on Jan 11.

Justice Qayyum admitted that he was disappointed and upset after whatever has transpired in the last four months. "I am disappointed after being convinced that the players whom we admire and consider stalwarts are involved in match-fixing and betting.

"Not only I am disappointed, I am sure the entire nation is feeling the same because the players have been held in the highest esteem by the followers of the game," said the honourable judge.

Justice Qayyum disclosed that he would be submitting three lists to president Rafiq Tarrar.

"I will prepare three lists - list of players against whom I am convinced that they are involved in corruption, list of players against whom I am doubtful, and the list of players against whom I am convinced they are not involved.

"It has been four long months of drill and the basic purpose of whatever has been done is to clean the sport and restore the reputation of the team and the country. I am confident that it will be the country and cricket which will benefit from the entire exercise," said Justice Qayyum.

The Lahore High Court Judge maintained that besides recommending extreme actions against the players, he would also be suggesting remedial measures to the cricket authorities.

"I would suggest the cricket board to collect the details of players assets as soon as the players earn Test status. Those details of the assets should be periodically reviewed.

"In addition to this, I would propose the cricket board to constitute a committee to monitor the activities of the cricketers. That committee should comprise former Test stars of the highest credibility."

Justice Qayyum stated that the judicial commission's report was delayed because of the recent development in which Shane Warne and Mark Waugh admitted accepting money from an Indian bookmaker to provide weather and pitch report.

"We are interested in re-examining the Australians because they took money for the match against which we have direct evidence."

Asked if the Pakistan players would be exonerated if the Australians failed to assist the judicial commission further, the judge said: "Not at all. We have received evidence from the Pakistan players themselves that they were offered money by their team-mates.

"The basic idea to re-examine the Australians is to know if they were offered by a Pakistani player or did they try to set-up a couple of their own team-mates or they took money to play badly in that match and are now claiming that they took money to provide weather and pitch report."

Justice Qayyum stated that the judicial commission has been told by former Pakistan captains, officials and team managers that some of the national team players were involved. "What interest they would have in making these allegations?" he questioned.

Justice Qayyum expressed his unhappiness over former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif's recent statement in which he said he would not be appearing before the judicial commission.

"Well, he is mistaken. We can force him to come and face the players against whom he has levelled allegations. Justice demands that the accused gets a chance to cross-examine his accuser. I am in no mood to listen to one side of the story.

"After all, Rashid Latif was the only cricketer who first created a hue and cry and spoke openly on match-fixing and betting with names of the cricketers. Why is he afraid now?" said the honourable judge.

Justice Qayyum dispelled impression that in camera statement cannot be made public. "The statements which can diminish or dent the prestige or reputation of the country are kept confidential not the allegations of the cricketers against their own team-mates."

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