Samiul Hasan: Burki has no evidence on betting (30 Mar 1997)

30 March 1997

Burki has no evidence on betting, match-fixing

By Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, March 29: Javed Burki on Saturday broke his silence on the simmering betting and match-fixing controversy saying he has no evidence against any player.

Burki, President of Pakistan's Adviser on cricket affairs, was here in the city in connection with the opening ceremony of Arabian Country Club. Burki, former chief of PACO, is currently posted in Islamabad as a high Federal functionary.

"I have no evidence against any player. All I have is the statement of three Australian cricketers (Tim May, Shane Warne and Mark Waugh) against Salim Malik.

"In fact, I offered some of the Pakistan players, including Rashid Latif, Basit Ali and Aamir Sohail, to come forward and record their statements then but they refused to come," Burki, who was the Ad hoc Committee Chairman between 1994 and 1995, said.

It may be recalled here that Burki, after his return from Zimbabwe and England, had told the Press that he had enough evidence to put the players behind bars under the law of the land.

Burki said it was very sad that Rashid Latif gave damaging statements to foreign newspapers (on the Africa tour in 1994-95) on betting and match-fixing "but when we asked him to submit his statement, he refused."

Burki emphasised that he was completely unaware of the controversy that has triggered off with Aamir Sohail making allegations against his team-mates. "I don't get time to read newspapers though I have been told by someone but in brief. "It is you media people who give so much publicity to the cricketers. They (cricketers) make baseless accusations and you (Press) carry them," Burki said.

The former Pakistan captain said this board has been working very smoothly. "All the allegations are being levelled by the players who have been disciplined by the board," said Burki. Burki endorsed the statement of PCB Chief Executive, Majid Khan, saying: "If Aamir Sohail has something concrete, he should come forward and prove it. What's the point of making statements."

Burki refused to comment when asked if he briefed President Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, Patron, PCB, about the betting and match-fixing affair. "It is very upsetting when two people talk in a closed room and issues which were not discussed come into the Press," was his comment. Javed Burki, replying to a question if he would bring this controversy to the knowledge of President Leghari, said: "Why should I. The PCB is competent enough to handle the situation. The President has other important things to do."

Burki further said he doesn't recall if he gave any briefing to the PCB officials when the ad hoc committee was handing over the charge to them. Burki denied submitting any report to the PCB which he prepared after his return from Harare. "Why should I submit any report. I have no report except the signed statements of three Australian cricketers." However, the contents of the alleged report, denied by Burki, are: "Prior to the only Test match in South Africa, the ad hoc committee decided to send one of the members of the selection committee to South Africa to find out the exact position and his report was that the team was out of control of the manager, had complete divergent views on all cricketing issues and looked it a pack of cards. The matter was brought to the notice of the President of Pakistan, who advised Mr Burki to go to Harare (which he did) to find the exact position."

In another separate report, Burki has reportedly said: "In South Africa in the Mandela Trophy during the final round matches, the Chairman of the ICC rang up Mr Arif Abbasi and informed him that the Pakistan team appeared to be involved in gambling in view of the manner under which they lost the matches. "Similar apprehensions were conveyed to the PCB during the Test (one-off) match. Even the vice-captain on that tour, Rashid Latif, gave a dissenting statement against the team captain. "According to our information, the betting deal was struck by Salim Malik with one Dawood Ibraheem of Sharjah, who has two confederatesfrom Bombay namely Makesh and Ralbai. "On this tour, Basit Ali confessed that Salim Malik was involved. It has also been reported to the PCB that Wasim Akram is also involved with Raja Zafar-ul-Haq. "It is also brought to our notice during the last one-day international in England in 1992, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were offered Rs 24 lakhs for losing the match."

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