Salim Malik loses appeal
against life ban

A court has dismissed an appeal by former Pakistan cricket captain Salim Malik against a life ban for match-fixing, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

But Malik said he would consider going to the Supreme Court to challenge Monday's decison by the Lahore high court.

Malik, 37, said: "I have maintained I am innocent and I want to prove that to the world."

His lawyer, Jahanzeb Akhtar, said: "We filed the appeal because the life ban was imposed on him without first hearing his viewpoint or seeking clarification from him."

The Pakistan Cricket Board banned Malik in May 2000 on the recommendations of Justice Malik Qayyum of the Lahore high court who carried out an inquiry into match-fixing allegations.

He was also prevented from playing domestic cricket after his last appearance for Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup. Malik played 103 Tests and 283 one-day internationals.

The Qayyum inquiry, conducted between September 1998-October 1999, fined six other players including Pakistan captain Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar. It also recommended that Wasim Akram should not be made Pakistan captain in future.

Australians Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May alleged in 1995 that Malik had offered them bribes during Australia's 1994-95 tour of Pakistan.

Mail Cricket Editor