Former Pakistan Test skipper Saleem Malik has slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) while accusing the board of being biased against him after he was cleared by the court of all the allegations levelled against him in the recent past.
“The court has cleared me from all allegations and as a Pakistani I have all rights to serve the country’s cricket, but the PCB is not ready to give me the same respect which it has been giving to Wasim, Waqar, Inzamam, Mushtaq and many others,” Malik was quoted as saying by Dawn.com
While talking to Dawn, the 53-year-old Malik said he has been kept away from assigning any of the roles by PCB while stating the world cricket governing body ICC may raise an objection against him before adding equal treatment should be given to all tainted cricketers.
“I have been cleared by the court of the law from all allegations many years back, but the PCB has so far refused to give me any role by citing the reason that ICC will raise objection to my appointment,” Malik said.
Malik expressed his disappointment over been isolated by the two different boards which include ICC in itself.
“I want to ask the ICC about its stand on me. I have been cleared of fixing charges but why am I still facing isolation from cricket fraternity,” Malik added.
Malik further went on to say why several cricketers who were punishable by law according to the Justice Qayyum’s Report on match-fixing scandal are being employed by PCB and eventually enjoying the perks.
“If both the PCB and the ICC approve the Justice Qayyum’s Report on match-fixing, then why all penalised cricketers are not out of the PCB,” asked Malik.
It’s pertinent to mention the Justice Qayyum’s Report was presented to the public in 2001.
Malik, who had also played 283 One-day Internationals for Pakistan was handed over a life ban.
According to the Justice Qayyum’s Report, Pakistan star players were also named to the list who were punishable by the law of the court.
“Big players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed and many others were also penalised by retired Justice Qayyum, but they all have been associated with the PCB in some or the other capacity and are enjoying perks without any objection from the ICC or the PCB,” Malik remarked.
However, as several former players have shown full support to Mohammad Amir in the recent past on his comeback after serving the five-year ban Malik questioned PCB for left-arm fast bowler’s inclusion in the team.
Moreover, the other two tainted players in the form of former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who had also served the ban which eventually expired in September 2015 didn’t receive the equal treatment from the board itself according to Malik.
In 2010, the trio was caught in the spot-fixing saga at Lord’s when they were playing a Test series against England.
“It is also glaring as to why the PCB has allowed tainted fast bowler Mohammad Amir to stage a comeback in international cricket after his involvement in spot-fixing scandal while fellow cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif are getting different treatment from the same Board,” he questioned.
The Justice Qayyum Report in the past had also made it clear by stating the country’s board should check players’ assets on the regular basis.
“Why is there a pick and choose policy in the PCB since 2001,” Malik concluded.
Malik who made his debut in 1982, featured in last international fixture in 1999. He had smashed 15 hundreds and 29 fifties in Tests and five hundreds and 47 fifties in ODIs.