Lahore: Former Pakistan batsman Saleem Malik has stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) asked him to accept match-fixing charges to deceive International Cricket Council (ICC).
Malik said that in 2013, during a meeting with PCB’s high officials. the board asked me to accept charges, get his life ban lifted and start his rehabilitation program.
“The statement PCB is talking about is from 2013 and not 2014. I met then Chairman PCB Najam Sethi, COO Subhan Ahmed, and Legal Counsel Tafazzul Rizvi,” he revealed.“They asked me to sign the letter, where I signed it and admitted the charges to deceive ICC in order to get my ban lifted. PCB is using the letter against me which is totally absurd,” he added,” he added.
Remember, PCB responded to Malik and stated that he failed to respond to transcripts provided by ICC of April 2000 conversation.
“You chose not to respond to the contents of the transcripts of a conversation that took place in April 2000. In the backdrop of the above, the PCB will be unable to proceed any further until such time you respond on the said matter.”
Board in its press release further added that the denial and avoidance to respond to the transcripts doesn’t change the admission Malik made in a 5 May 2014 letter to the then PCB Chairman.
“Sir, after consultations and on my free will, I have reached a decision that I am ready to accept my wrongdoing, apologise to the fans and want to start by rehabilitation process. I fully understand the consequence of my decision and am ready to cooperate to every extent with ICC and PCB for my rehabilitation program. I would request PCB to talk to ICC if required and start my rehabilitation program at the earliest.” – Agenices
