Malik & May Share Nets (03 Nov 1995)

International Cricket: May and Salim joined in the waiting game

By Peter Deeley in Adelaide and Paul Newman in Karachi

SALIM MALIK and Tim May shared the same nets yesterday but they might have been worlds apart for all the notice the two men at the heart of bitter antagonism took of each other.

Pakistan were first to use the practice facilities at the Adelaide Oval before their game with South Australia. When May arrived at the gate, he had to wait and watch the former Pakistan captain at batting practice.

Eventually the teams shared the same piece of turf but though the two men were often within hearing distance of each other, there was no response, no eye contact. Instead, their studied avoidance resembled an old-fashioned ballroom quadrille where everyone dances with each other, except the person closest to - or in this case, furthest from - their hearts.

The off-spinner was quite happy, however, to chat to Pakistan`s captain, Wasim Akram, and at one stage, gesturing to the cameras that festooned the other side of the wire, could be heard saying he did not know "what all this is about".

This was Salim`s first game after an eight-month exile and since he joined the tour party earlier this week. Looking a little thick around the middle, he spent 15 minutes batting in the nets but for the rest of the day was little more than a spectator in the field as South Australia took first knock and scored 282 for four.

May, along with Shane Warne and Mark Waugh, are the three men who carry the secrets of Salim`s alleged bid to bribe them to throw games in Pakistan a year ago. He has been cleared in his own country but so far the Australians have declined to speak further about the matter, though May supports the idea of an independent inquiry.

terrible pressure`

He warns: "If there is any further talk about my integrity and honesty, either as an individual or as a professional cricketer, I shall have no hesitation in taking legal action."

Salim finally broke his silence to say: "It has been a disheartening and painful time for me. I have been under terrible pressure."

Initially he was optimistic, hoping the bribery storm would pass and that his board members would relent over the further problems which erupted during his leadership of Pakistan in Zimbabwe after Australia`s visit. Then, because of alleged "ill discipline" and "selfish play" he had been dropped from the side.

Instead, Salim said he had been barred from all cricket at home and when the selectors ignored him for the series against Sri Lanka, he took the Pakistan Cricket Board to court.

That move failed and so he sought solace with his job in a leading Pakistan bank. "When I was not there for the Sri Lanka tour I thought `well it`s over now. They`re not going to pick me again`."

The first direct confrontation between off-spinner and batsman - accuser and appellant - is expected today.

Thus far, the combatants have kept their powder dry and avoided direct confrontation. One feels, however, that an indignant Australian public will not be so pacific.

Meanwhile, the most unpredictable of cricketing nations were in conciliatory mood yesterday in Karachi as they came close to apologising to Australia for three of their players being branded liars.

Arif Abbasi, chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, put out a statement which he said "will bring the whole Salim Malik issue to an end". While that might be a shade optimistic, it was certainly a welcome move, coming a day after Clyde Walcott, chairman of the International Cricket Council, insisted he would not be launching a new inquiry into allegations of attempted bribery.

"The PCB recognise Judge Ebrahim`s findings, which he asked to be made public, have given offence to the Australian Cricket Board and three players," said Abbasi`s statement. "The findings and choice of words were those of Judge Ebrahim, not of the PCB. We regret offence was taken and the resulting adverse publicity. Our view is that the matter can be taken no further and trust the Test series will be played in the right spirit."

TOUR MATCH (Adelaide).- South Australia 282-4 (B Johnson 54, D S Lehmann 109 not) v Pakistan.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph