Tauqir advises Majid against irresponsible statements

Lahore, July 5: Pakistan Cricket Board ad hoc committee chairman Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia advised former PCB chief executive Majid Khan not to issue irresponsible statements on a sensitive issue like match-fixing. He disclosed that a special committee had been formed by the ICC to investigate into the unsubstantiated allegations levelled by Ai Bacher against the Pakistan team.

Gen Tauqir was talking to mediamen at the Qadhafi Stadium on Monday for the first time after returning from England, having attended the ICC meeting there. He said that the match-fixing was a very sensitive issue and a senior star like Majid Khan should avoid talking about it without having any solid proof.

It may be mentioned here that the South African cricket chief Ali Bacher has quoted Majid Khan about Pakistani cricketers involvement in match-fixing. Bacher has also alleged that the Pakistan team's matches in last World Cup against India and Bangladesh were fixed.

The PCB chairman also warned the former Test wicket-keeper Rashid Latif against issuing press statement on this issue. He said that the PCB had reserved the right to take action against Rashid Latif.

He said that two Asian cricket giants, Pakistan and India, had good understanding at ICC level and were supporting each other's point of view there. He said that India had confirmed its participation in the Asia Cup Under-17 Tournament to be held in Sindh and Balochistan this month. That had paved the way for the Indian Senior team's tour to Pakistan in January, 2001, the PCB chief said.

Talking about Pakistan's next schedule of activities, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia said that the team would take part in a three-nation tournament in Singapore next month. Besides Pakistan, the other teams are South Africa and New Zealands. Pakistan and India would play for Sahara Cup at Toronto, Canada in September, before meeting in Dubai for another series, he said.

He said that PCB general manager Zakir Khan would visit Dubai in near future to examine the condition of pitches there.

He said that paceman Shoaib Akhtar would be fit for the game within one month and he (Akhtar) might be considered for Singapore tour, but the cricketer's selection for the home series against England, due in October, was sure.

Replying to another question, the PCB chief said that the ICC did not hand over any proof to him about an England tabloid News of World allegation on former Test captain Salim Malik's involvement in matchfixing. He said that only PCB would investigate into that allegation.

He said that the PCB would soon take over the control of the Pindi Stadium.