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Pakistan will appeal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on behalf of former captain Saleem Malik if he decides to contest a life ban imposed on him for match fixing, chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday.

“In case Saleem Malik appeals, we will consider it and forward it to the ICC,” Dr Nasim Ashraf told reporters.

Malik was banned for life after a judicial inquiry conducted by Pakistani judge Malik Mohammad Qayyum found enough evidence of match fixing against him. Australian trio Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh had alleged Malik offered them money to under-perform during their team’s tour to Pakistan in 1994.

The Qayyum inquiry banned Malik and paceman Ata-ur-Rehman for life and fined six others including the current captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saeed Anwar and Akram Raza. Ata-ur-Rehman’s ban, imposed on charges of perjury after the inquiry in 2000, was lifted during the ICC Executive Board meeting in Mumbai last week where Nasim represented Pakistan.

“Ata-ur-Rehman’s ban from international cricket was imposed in 2000 and after two years an ICC ruling included first-class in the ban,” said Nasim. “He (Ata) wanted to play first-class cricket so he had appealed to the ICC,” he stated. “It is nice to see his ban lifted and since cricket is his bread and butter he would now be available to play county cricket in England,” said Nasim.

While reinstating Ata the ICC said: “The board was keen to stress that this decision does not represent a precedent in respect of other banned players and any subsequent applications for reinstatement would be considered on their individual merits.”

Malik said the lifting of Ata’s ban and Pakistan’s promise to forward his appeal to the ICC had given him a lifeline. “I will definitely appeal against the ban and the recent talk of Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin’s ban to be lifted and Ata’s relief give me a lot of encouragement,” Malik said.

Malik, a top-class middle-order batsman, played 103 Tests and 283 One-day Internationals for Pakistan.

Source:The News

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