KARACHI, March 31: Former captain Salim Malik was given a cold shoulder treatment by former team-mates Saturday when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) celebrated the 10th anniversary of 1992 World Cup victory.

Salim’s former team-mates didn’t mix-up or engage in discussions with him. Salim sat at the table with his wife alone and far away from where most of the 1992 World Cup squad was seated.

So much so, Salim’s brother-in-law Ijaz Ahmed and his wife also stayed away from the former captain.

It was Salim’s first social appearance since May 2000 when he was banned for life after being found guilty of corruption in Pakistan cricket.

“Most of the boys were aware that any mix-up with Salim would raise suspicion of their involvement in betting and match-fixing,” a current Pakistan team member said.

However, the PCB, who slapped Salim with a life ban on the recommendation of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum, warmly received the former Test skipper when he arrived for the reception but got a cold shoulder treatment from most of the ex-Test players and administrators.

“For the PCB, Salim Malik was a guest. And in our culture, we give utmost respect to our guests. It’s true that Salim was banned by the same PCB but he was banned for his activities after 1994. For us, he was a clean cricketer in 1992,” an official of the PCB said.

Former pacer Ata-ur-Rahman, who is also serving life-ban from international cricket for perjury, was one of the several Test cricketers who did not attend the function.