Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf has ruled out any plans to hire former test captain Salim Malik as the next batting coach of the national team.
Malik, who was banned for life in 2000 by a judicial inquiry commission for his role in match-fixing, has applied for the batting coach position after stating that the Supreme Court had cleared him in the case.
“I am cleared and my life ban was lifted four years ago,” Malik told reporters after submitting his application to Intikhab Alam, PCB director of international cricket operations.
“I am cleared by the PCB and the ICC so I can now be involved in any cricket-related activity.”
Zaka, without clarifying whether this was in fact the case, ruled out the application, saying that Malik was unqualified for the job as it was.
“We have decided to have qualified coaches for different jobs and that is why we have kept a certain criteria for candidates. Only those candidates will be considered who meet our eligibility process,” Ashraf said, aware Malik does not have coaching badges.
The PCB are seeking a Level-3 coach with at least five years' experience with elite cricketers.