rediff.com: Salim Malik ready for any inquiry

Pakistan's former cricket captain Salim Malik said on Friday he is ready to face any inquiry on match-fixing and rejected reports that he is planning to quit the country for good.

"I am in Pakistan and will remain in Pakistan until all the inquiries clear me," Malik said from Lahore.

Malik, the central character in Pakistan's match-fixing controversy, is one of two players who faces a life ban from the game.

Mohammad Qayyum, a judge of the Lahore High Court who headed a judicial probe into bribery and match-fixing allegations in Pakistan cricket, reportedly said his recommendations after a year-long inquiry included a life ban on Malik and leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.

"I went to England for personal work but my detractors were again quick to drag my name into wrong things," Malik said.

Australian cricketers, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May, claimed Malik offered them bribes to play poorly during Australia's tour of Pakistan in 1994.

"I was cleared by a Supreme Court judge in 1995 and again in 1999 but there are some people who always conspire against me with allegations," the former Pakistani captain said.

Malik was implicated in an interim report in September 1998 but was cleared of match-fixing by deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Accountability Bureau in August 1999. He was droped from Pakistan's side after failing with the bat in the 1999 World Cup in England.

"I am ready to play and hope to stage a comeback once I get into form," he said.

He refused to comment on former South African captain Hansie Cronje's reported confession of having taken money from a bookie.

"He is passing through a tough time and was regarded a clean player, I don't want to comment on that," he said.

Malik lauded International Cricket Council's decisions in its two-day emergency meeting on match-fixing.

"Its good news they are taking the matter seriously but they should handle those who put baseless allegations."

Pakistan Cricket Board's chairman General Tauqir Zia was scheduled to meet President of Pakistan, Mohammad Rafiq Tarrar, shortly to discuss Qayyum's match-fixing report. He has promised the report will be made public.

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