Malik Arrives In Australia (01 Nov 1995)

By Paul Newman in Perth

SALIM MALIK made his belated arrival in Australia yesterday to be met by an unseemly media scrum, three 'cricketers' wearing Shane Warne masks and the news that Tim May, the last Australian player implicated in the bribery affair to have his say, is prepared to take any future doubters to court.

Salim, remaining calm and unruffled after landing in Perth from Karachi via Kuala Lumpur, had to fight his way through a forest of cameras and microphones when he arrived to join the Pakistan touring party.

It is likely to be the first of many hot receptions for a man who, in Australian eyes, has become a modern-day Douglas Jardine, the English captain in the notorious Bodyline series.

Salim was sacked as captain eight months ago while the bribery claims were investigated by a former Pakistani judge. The batsman was accused by Warne, May and Mark Waugh that he offered bribes last year for them to play badly.

"I cannot say anything controversial," said Salim, who was cleared after the inquiry. "It is in my contract. I will talk about cricket later so please now let me go." With that, and a smile for one of the Warne lookalikes who wished him luck, he warmly greeted Salim Yousuf, the Pakistan manager, and left for the team hotel.

Salim will today take another flight to Adelaide with his colleagues for a match starting tomorrow against South Australia that will see him oppose May if, as expected, both are selected for the last game before next week's first Test in Brisbane.

So the plot continues to thicken

May, the South Australian off-spinner, was in no mood for conciliation yesterday when he issued a statement which pre-empted Salim's arrival. He emphasised the hurt that he, Warne and Waugh feel at being accused by former supreme court judge Fakhruddin Ebrahim of concocting the allegations that Salim offered them money to play badly.

May said: "If there are any further statements made or aspersions cast which reflect upon my integrity either as an individual or an Australian cricketer I shall have no hesitation in taking legal action against those involved.

"I would never impugn the honour of Australian cricket in the manner that has been alleged. It is utterly false to suggest that I concocted the story and could ever sign a false declaration.

"I endorse the decision of the Australian Cricket Board to seek an independent determination of this matter by the International Cricket Council in London and I am ready, willing and able to attend any independent hearing convened by the ICC. That is the appropriate forum."

Graham Halbish, chief executive of the ACB, had his say when he labelled the affair "the biggest crisis since World Series Cricket".

He repeated his demand for the ICC to open a new inquiry into the controversial claims, and insisted that other cricket bodies supported him.

"It appears other countries feel that it is a matter that is of great concern to cricket and does have implications for the well being of the game and have come out and said so," he added.

So the plot continues to thicken. There was one lighter moment, however, yesterday as the assembled media waited by the arrivals door at Perth Airport waiting for Salim.

Just before he emerged, the figure of an archetypal ageing MCC member, complete with egg and bacon tie and hat, strolled through as if about to take his seat at Lord's. "Mate, you've got to hand it to Salim," said one Australian journalist. "That's a pretty convincing disguise."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph