September 26, 2003	Friday	Rajab 28, 1424

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KARACHI, Sept 25: Angry protesters on Thursday blamed match-fixing mafia for Rashid Latif’s resignation as Pakistan captain and chanted slogans against Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials.

“Match-fixing mafia is behind Rashid’s resignation,” his supporters shouted as more than 150 protesters staged a sit-in outside the Karachi Press Club.

They carried placards denouncing PCB chairman Tauqir Zia, a retired army general. “Go Tauqir Zia, Go” and “Save cricket by making Rashid captain,” the placards demanded.

“Rashid is an honest man and was creating hurdles in the way of the mafia who wanted to fix matches,” protestor Mohammad Salim said.

Rashid stirred a major controversy when he resigned as captain on Wednesday, citing personal reasons. But many observers believe he was forced to quit following differences with Tauqir and PCB chief selector Aamir Sohail.

Rashid is known as the whistle blower on the match-fixing controversy. He alleged fellow player Salim Malik of wrongdoings on Pakistan’s tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1994-95.

As a protest he and fellow player Basit Ali retired from international cricket but Rashid changed his decision and later in 1998 was appointed Pakistan captain.

On the basis of audio evidence he provided, a match-fixing inquiry led by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum banned Salim Malik and pacer Ata-ur-Rehman for life.

In June this year he wrote a letter to the ICC claiming that match-fixing was still going on in international cricket.

Rashid also met the officials of the ICC’s Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) and passed information onto them.

His letter to the ICC became one of the reasons he left the captaincy.

Rashid was also unhappy that selectors had awarded Test and one-day caps to some novice players during the recently concluded series against Bangladesh. —AFP