Pakistan Cricket Board requests Commission to probe into allegations (9 July 1999)

9 July 1999

Pakistan Cricket Board requests Commission to probe into allegations

Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, July 8: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has requested the judicial commission of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum to include in his investigations fresh charges of betting and match-fixing in the World Cup.

The request was made by secretary of the PCB Waqar Ahmad on the instructions of chairman Khalid Mahmood, spokesman of the commission said.

"Along with the request, the PCB has also attached various newspaper clippings in which the allegations of the match-fixing and betting in the World Cup have been levelled," PCB's legal advisor Ali Sibtain Fazli told Dawn from Lahore on Thursday. Fazli added that the PCB in its request has further urged Justice Qayyum to include the World Cup in his investigations "since there has been a lot of talk of match-fixing in some of the World Cup matches including the final."

The PCB request comes days after its chairman went all out in support of the team saying that the team was beaten fair and square in the final at Lord's. Pakistan were thrashed by eight wickets by Australia at Lord's after accumulating just 132 runs in 39 overs. Australia, in theirturn at the wicket, achieved victory in 20.1 overs.

"The PCB request came on Wednesday," Fazli added.

Interestingly, the PCB executive council, which is meeting on Sunday at Lahore, is also scheduled to discuss the fresh allegations and chalk out a policy decision. However, before the meeting the decision has already been conveyed to the commission which, according to officials, is a breach of the PCB constitution. However, Fazli made it clear that the PCB request would only be accommodated if the federal government urged the honourable judge to include the World Cup in its investigations.

"If the federal government says no, then the PCB request will not be entertained. Justice Qayyum has already written to the federal government for advice and is expecting the answer early next week. As soon as he gets the advice from Islamabad, the PCB would be informed of commission decision," Fazli added.

Fazli said Justice Qayyum has again ordered the Ehtesab (Accountability Bureau) to submit the report of details of their investigations of the World Cup.

"The reply of the Accountability Bureau is also expected next week as Senator Saifur Rahman was out of the country," Fazli added.

Country's government-run news agency had quoted an unnamed Accountability Bureau official as saying that during the World Cup, the players went over-board in merrymaking.

Fazli said in the backdrop of PCB request, delay in advice from the federal government and submission of documents by the Accountability Bureau, the commission report was unlikely to be submitted to President Rafique Tarrar on time.

"If the federal government requests the judge to include the World Cup, then the entire procedure of investigation would be repeated. "Secondly, since the Accountability Bureau has not submitted its report, compiling of one report (including commission investigations and Accountability Bureau probe) would take its own time," Fazli said.

He added that against expectations, Thursday's hearing didn't turn out to the final hearing. He said the judge adjourned the hearing saying he would give fresh date for a new hearing.

"Javed Miandad, who didn't appear on Thursday along with Ataur Rahman, have been order to present themselves in the next hearing," Fazli said.

When pointed out that though Miandad has already recorded his statement, Fazli replied: "The judge wants to know the exact story why he resigned on the eve of Pakistan team's departure for the World Cup. He wants to know what happened in Sharjah which forced him to quit the team."

Fazli said the cricket board has been ordered to arrange for the travelling of Miandad and Ataur Rahman. "Since both are in England, the PCB has been ordered to bear their travelling expenses," Fazli added.

Giving details of Thursday's hearing, Fazli said the lawyers of skipper Wasim Akram and former captain Salim Malik cross-examined their accusers.

Fazli said Salim Pervaiz, a former first-class cricketer and an alleged bookie, repeated his allegation on Salim Malik and Mushtaq Ahmad that he paid the two play money after a deal was struck. "Salim Pervaiz told the commission that the two players had agreed to arrange a couple of more players and throw away a 1994 Singer Cup match against Australia at Colombo (Sri Lanka)."

The lawyer of Wasim Akram confronted one Mohammad Yousuf Sheikh. "Sheikh told the commission that his brother was a bookie and had placed a bet of Rs one million on Pakistan's victory in the 1996 World Cup quarter-final against India at Bangalore. "Sheikh added that he was tipped of Pakistan victory by Wasim Akram father and brother (Chaudhry Akram and Nadeem Akram respectively).

"Sheikh said when Pakistan lost the match, he demanded his money back from Chaudhry Akram. When the money was not returned, he reported the matter to the CIA. On the contrary, Chaudhry Akram lodged a false FIR against him claiming that he (Mohammad Yousuf Sheikh) kidnapped Chaudhry Akram."

Fazli said Yousuf Sheikh's statement that he was falsely implicated was proved when Lahore's anti-terrorist court exonerated him of all charges last week.

Source :: The Dawn