LAHORE, April 30: The Lahore High Court is expected to give its verdict on Salim Malik’s life ban on May 20 after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lawyer failed to appear for a scheduled hearing Tuesday.

Justice Karamat Bhindari, who also investigated charges of foul play during the 1999 World Cup, ordered that if PCB failed to appear before May 20, he would announce his verdict.

Salim has filed an appeal against the ban imposed on him by the PCB on the recommendation of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum who probed allegations that Pakistan players were involved in betting and match-fixing. Salim was found guilty while Ata-ur-Rehman was banned for perjury. Six other players, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Mushtaq Ahmed and Akram Raza were fined.

Lahore High Court officials said PCB legal advisor sent a medical certificate that he was sick.

But PCB’s lawyer Asghar Haider denied that he had sent medical certificate. He contested that he had a hearing in the Supreme Court but committed himself to appear before the honourable court on the next given date.

Salim’s counsel has argued that the PCB was not the competent authority to impose life ban on his client as it were just the recommendations of an injury commission. He has further argued that the court only had the powers to impose bans.