Samiul Hasan: ICC told Burki about Aamir's allegations (1 Apr 1997)

ICC told Burki about Aamir's allegations

By Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, March 31: Aamir Sohail had made betting and match fixing allegations two years back at a time when three Australian cricketers had also accused former captain Salim Malik of offering money to throw away the first Test at Karachi in 1994.

On Feb 16, 1995, Aamir Sohail had told British tabloid, The Sun, that some of his team-mates were involved in accepting bribes.

"I would like to see several members of the Pakistan team dropped because of their involvement in betting.

"If I was not bound by the Code of Conduct, I could name so many players in the present Pakistan team who have been bribed to lose matches.

"It is getting so bad that the guys who are not doing it are getting a bad name. The authorities must put a stop to it before it gets out of hand.

"The players seem to hate each other," Aamir Sohail was quoted as saying.

Wasim Akram, talking to The Sun, had said: "I have never been offered a bribeand I don't know if anybody has ever been. I never gambleit is illegal in Pakistanand all this talk of throwing matches is news to me."

Interestingly, Javed Burki on Saturday had emphasised that Aamir Sohail never made allegations when he was a member of the team. Burki, now Adviser to President of Pakistan on cricket affairs, had further stated that he (Aamir Sohail) never came forward when the ad hoc committee constituted a panel to investigate in the betting and match fixing accusations.

However, David Richards, ICC Chief Executive, had informed Javed Burki in February 1995 that Aamir Sohail had made similar betting and match fixing allegations like the Australian trio which needed immediate attention and investigation.

David Richards, in a Feb 17, 1995, letter to Javed Burki, had said: "Concurrent with these (betting and match fixing) allegations, there has been media reports of other alleged attempts to bribe players. These have not been substantiated at this time and as people who are not currently playing the game have been referred to in the reports, an investigation may be beyond the jurisdiction of the ICC.

"There have also been Press reports with quotes attributed to Aamir Sohail, a copy of which is attached for your information, and which bears your investigation."

David Richards, a former Chief Executive of the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), had also warned Javed Burki that unless his (Javed Burki's) ad hoc committee didn't handle the issue tactfully, it would continue to resurface time and again and it would be the game which will be the greatest sufferer.

"The combined effect of all this is extremely damaging to the image of cricket. We can expect that the issue will continue to attract substantial media coverage," Richards had said in his two-page letter to Burki, who in 1995 was the Chairman of the ad hoc committee.

What one refuses to digest is that when Javed Burki was briefed with evidence by an official of the game's governing body that Aamir Sohail had made betting and match fixing allegations, why he didn't ask him to record his statement. Instead, what forced Burki to say that Aamir Sohail never came forward to help the investigating team.

To make things worse, no disciplinary action was taken against Aamir Sohail for his statements which were against the Code of Conduct and a clear breach of contract the opener had signed with the then BCCP.

Investigations further reveal that Javed Burki had made a telephone call to Aamir Sohail on March 18, 1995 (a day after he received the letter from David Richards) asking if he was willing to record his statement. However, Burki never got in touch with Aamir Sohail despite getting his acceptance.

It has also come to light that two other cricketers were also called to submit their observations about the African tour. The duo had indicated that the allegations had some truth. The two players are believed to be Kabir Khan and Manzoor Elahi.

David Richard's letter further says that he and his Chairman (Sir Clyde Walcott) have all reasons to believe that the Australians had a case and Salim Malik needed to give an explanation.

"Having examined the statement, the Chairman and I, and the ICC's solicitors, are of the view that Salim Malik has a case to answer. We believe that as he is the captain of Pakistan appointed by your board, it is your board's responsibility to investigate the matter thoroughly and promptly," the letter says.

It is believed that it was chiefly on the briefing of the ICC officials that Javed Burki, after his return from London, said there was enough evidence available against Salim Malik and others which was enough to put them behind pars. Nevertheless, Javed Burki, after two years, took a U-turn and said he had not evidence against any player except the statements of the three Australian cricketers.

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