Malik terms fine as his acquittal (10 December 1998)

10 December 1998

Malik terms fine as his acquittal

By Our Sports Correspondent

LAHORE, Dec 9: Test star Salim Malik called the fine imposed on Australian cricketers Mark Waugh and Shane Warne by their cricket board for dealing with bookmaker, as his acquittal from betting charges levelled by same players against him.

Commenting on the fine on Australian players, the elated Salim Malik, while talking to journalists at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, said that after paying the fine amount these Australian cricketers had lost their reputation and their allegations against him had no weight.

Besides Mark Waugh and Shane Warne the third Australian cricketer Tim May had alleged that Salim Malik had offered them bribe to throw away Karachi Test in 1994 tour.

Malik, however, said with heavy heart that the baseless allegations had wasted his two golden years of playing cricket when his performance was at its peek.

He vowed he would file defamation suit against all the three Australian cricketers in England court.

"I will consult my consul soon in this connection," he said.

Salim Malik said that levelling of baseless match-fixing and betting allegations on Pakistan cricketers was a conspiracy hatched to disturb the fine performance of Pakistan team during 1994 season.

Malik also held some officials of Pakistan cricket board responsible for not dealing with the Australian allegation properly from the beginning.

He alleged that Mark Waugh also made false statements before one man inquiry commission headed by Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum.

He said it had been the tradition of Australians to use negative tactics to defame the strong teams of other countries. They had alleged Sri Lankan off-spinner Muralitharan for throwing the ball when he was delivering goods for his team.

He reminded that starting of betting in matches was initiated by Australian cricketers Dennis Lillee and Rodney Marsh.

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