Former Pakistani cricketer Saleem Malik has requested Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to drop his lifetime ban. He also pleaded the cricket board to allow him a chance to coach. Malik was found guilty of match-fixing after a judicial inquiry in 2000 in a scandal that shocked the cricket world.
Source: Geo.tv
In an interview with a local news channel, Malik shared his disappointment of not being able to play international cricket due to the match-fixing scandal. The former Pakistan captain added he was ready to cooperate with the PCB and International Cricket Council (ICC). Malik applied to be Pakistan’s batting coach in 2012 and was also in contention for the head coaching job at the National Cricket Academy in 2008 but was overlooked on both occasions.
He said, “I have wanted to serve my country as a coach. Whenever I tried to serve as a coach I was not considered.” Malik has played 103 Tests and 283 One-Day Internationals in a career that stretched from 1982 to 1999.
‘I am being treated like a stepson’, says Malik
Malik also questioned why he had been treated differently than other players who were allowed to hold jobs in the PCB. They had also continued coaching after being named in the Justice Qayyum Report.
He said, “According to the Justice Qayyum Report, players that paid their fines are now working in the PCB or coaching. Why am I being treated like a stepson even after being cleared? I feel like I am not a citizen of this country. I think someone, who played with me, might have gotten hurt which is why I am being treated this way.”
Read also: 12 Scandals Involving Pakistani Cricketers That Will Leave You Shocked
Saleem Malik added Inzamam ul Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq had also requested PCB to allow him to serve the game. According to Inzamam, Malik was a cricketing brain and had faced enough ban and isolation. Saqlain also said Malik had faced enough punishment. “Malik is one of the best batsmen Pakistan has produced. He should be given some duty to perform as he can surely contribute a lot,” said Saqlain.
PCB and ICC not endorsing Malik
Earlier, according to media reports, the PCB had said that it wanted Malik to respond to the notice issued to him regarding his suspicious meetings. “Malik, till date, has not responded to the notice. That is why the PCB and the ICC are not willing to give any clear statement on why he is not allowed to engage in any cricket activities,” it claimed.
Source: Sportskeeda
Australians Shane Warne, Mark Waugh, and Tim May had accused Malik of offering them bribes to underperform during their tour of Pakistan in 1995. His ban was lifted by a Pakistani court in 2008. However, the decision was not endorsed by the PCB or the ICC.
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