LAHORE: Former Test captain Salim Malik received no considerable relief here on Monday in a video transcript case, allegedly involving him in fixing conversation, as former Lahore High Court Judge Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan, as the independent adjudicator of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), announced his decision of the case.

Salim, 57, was banned for life in 2000 by the Justice Malik Qayyum Commission for his involvement in match-fixing. A civil court in 2008 lifted the ban.

In his decision announced on Monday, the judge denied Salim’s request to order the PCB to issue him (Salim) a clearance certificate regarding all allegations.

However, the adjudicator asked the PCB to verify the transcript, which was recorded back in 2000 but was produced for the first time by the ICC in 2011, when then PCB chairman Ijaz Butt appointed Salim as head coach of the National Cricket Academy. Later, the appointment was withdrawn within hours on pressure from the ICC.

Adjudicator denies former skipper’s request for clearance certificate from PCB

The judge also ordered the PCB not to use the transcript against Salim till its verification, giving some relief to the former batsman as till the verification he may not be considered tainted. However on the other hand, the adjudicator denied Salim’s request of asking the PCB to issue him NOC.

Here it may be mentioned that one of the PCB officials on the condition of anonymity had earlier told Dawn that the Board had already verified the transcript after the ICC could not do it as yet. The official claims that all the verified cassettes had been handed over to the judge.

“In the concluding paragraphs of the 11-page judgment, Justice Chauhan wrote: “Appellant [Salim Malik] is seeking a Clearance Certificate from the PCB to the effect that he is not involved in any kind of match-fixing or betting. This prayer for issuance of NOC from PCB [the employer] is unnatural,” according to a press release issued by the PCB.

“[The] appellant has applied for a job or post or permission to run a Cricket Academy under the PCB and at the same time is seeking NOC from the PCB. This prayer cannot be granted.

“The appellant had to show his good character independent of the PCB. He cannot ask the PCB to issue NOC for providing him a job or grant him permission.

“The appeal in hand is disposed of holding that the PCB shall not use the transcripts dated 25-5-2000 against the appellant [Salim Malik] without verifying the same against original tapes. The PCB is further directed to decide the application of the appellant [Salim Malik] for the post of batting coach, either way.”

Commenting on the judgement, PCB counsel Taffazul Rizvi said: “The appeal filed by Salim Malik has been disposed of by the learned independent adjudicator, Mr Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan. The learned independent adjudicator has inter alia held that the prayer of Salim Malik for the grant of [the] NOC cannot be granted as he has to show his good character.

“It is also held by the adjudicator that Salim Malik cannot ask the PCB to issue NOC to provide him a job or grant him permission.”

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2020