'I am very sorry for what I had done 19 years ago' - Saleem Malik openly apologizes for his fixing allegations
PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi, meanwhile, has asked Malik to give full cooperation under the anti-corruption laws if he wants a return into the sport.
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Back in 2000, the then Pakistan cricketer Saleem Malik was charged with match-fixing allegations. He was given a life ban from the game and he hasn’t been involved with the game since then. Finally, 20 years after that incident jolted Pakistan cricket, Malik has come up and apologised publicly.
The former Pakistan captain in a video message shared his disappointment of not being able to play international cricket. He said he was ready to cooperate with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He also apologised to the fans who were disappointed on finding his involvement in match-fixing. Malik revealed that he has been thinking about appealing this for some time now.
“I am very sorry for what I had done 19 years ago. I am ready to extend unconditional cooperation to the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board in this regard,” Malik said in a video message.
‘I have been ignored and not considered to become a coach of players’: Saleem Malik
The once talented and renowned batsman said that he has given his entire life to the sport. He appealed to the human rights saying that he would want to be treated the same way other players who have carried such offence have been treated.
“I did not do anything other than playing cricket which I started at the age of eight. I have played this game throughout my life, this is my bread and butter. Therefore, I appeal that under the laws of human rights I like other players [found guilty of fixing] be treated,” he said.
Malik further went on say that he is ready to co-operate with the officials at ICC and PCB. He revealed that all he wants is to be treated like other players. “Whatever [relevant] laws of the ICC and PCB are there, I am ready to fully cooperate with them”, the former cricketer said.
Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Sharjeel Khan are some players who have been allowed to play cricket in Pakistan after they had served their respective bans. Amir, in fact, since then has gone to play for Pakistan at the international level as well.
Former Pakistan Captain Salim Malik has apologized for match fixing after 18 years pic.twitter.com/sRy3bcswhc
— Ali Raza (@AliRazaTweets) April 26, 2020
Unlike these players, Saleem Malik hasn’t been given the opportunity to come back to do something related to Pakistan cricket. He had applied for the role of the Head coach in 2008 and batting coach in 2012. Both the times, PCB rejected his application.
“Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Sharjeel Khan have been playing but I have been ignored and not considered to become a coach of players,” Malik said.
PCB legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi, meanwhile, has asked Malik to give full cooperation under the anti-corruption laws if he wants a return into the sport.
“For any player desirous of wanting to make a comeback the only way is to fully cooperate with his board under the anti-corruption laws,” Tafazzul said. “First of all Salim Malik should respond to the questions we had asked him in April, 2011 regarding the meetings he held in London. Malik should give an explanation of these meetings and then we can take his case forward,” he added.
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