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Why can't Saleem Malik return? The inside story unfolded

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"I was given a clean chit by the court in 2008. Despite getting a clean chit from the court, I am not given a chance," the former captain said.

He appealed to the chairman Pakistan Cricket Board to give me a chance to serve the country, I want to serve Pakistan by coaching at any level.
The Pakistan Cricket Board had banned Saleem Malik for life in 2000 in the light of Justice Qayyum's inquiry report on spot-fixing and bribery charges. The ban was lifted.
Former Test captain and match-fixing convicted cricketer Saleem Malik's case of coming into the world of cricket to start coaching or any other job seems simple and easy but it is not so.

Several Test cricketers, including Inzamam-ul-Haq and Thaqleen Mushtaq, have been campaigning for him to open the doors of Pakistan cricket, but Saleem Malik is facing investigation by the Pakistan Cricket Board in another case on serious allegations.


Like Aamir and Sharjeel, I should be given a chance to return: Saleem Malik

Saleem Malik is silent in this case so no progress has been made in his case. The biggest party in this case is the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Exactly seven years ago, the then Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Subhan Ahmed, had sought a written explanation from Saleem Malik about the 'trans corruption' he had received from the ICC, but Saleem Malik was satisfied with his reputation. He refrained from answering, which prevented him from returning.

Saleem Malik is under investigation for his explanation of talking to suspicious people and he cannot return to the world of cricket because of this investigation as he refrained from cooperating in the investigation and has not responded yet.


According to responsible sources, Saleem Malik's conversations in three meetings at a London hotel were horrifying and eye-opening. The record of the conversations he had with these people was obtained by the ICC through its spies. And the record of this conversation was sent to the Pakistan Cricket Board for further action.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser Tafazul Rizvi, when contacted by Geo, confirmed that Saleem Malik had not responded to a request for clarification on a meeting with some unknown people at a London hotel. No further progress could be made in the Malik case and the matter could not move forward.

Rizvi said that the International Cricket Council had sent transcripts of three meetings of Saleem Malik to the Pakistan Cricket Board in 2010 in which he was talking to some suspicious people. In April 2013, the Pakistan Cricket Board wrote a letter to Saleem Malik about this. He had written to ask for clarification on the transcript and the discussion in the meeting as there were serious allegations against Saleem Malik in the transcript.

Earlier in 2010, the then chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Ijaz Butt, had appointed Saleem Malik as head coach at the National Academy, but the ICC had leaked the details of the meeting at a hotel in London. CC chief executive Aaron Loggart had expressed reservations over Saleem Malik's appointment and the PCB had refused to hire him.

It may be recalled that former Pakistan cricket captain Saleem Malik had recently said in his statement that like Mohammad Amir and Sharjeel Khan, they should also be given a chance to return to cricket.

The former national team captain had said that Aamir, Sharjeel and Salman Butt were also included in the PSL but I am being ignored everywhere.

"I was given a clean chit by the court in 2008. Despite getting a clean chit from the court, I am not given a chance," the former captain said.

He appealed to the chairman Pakistan Cricket Board to give me a chance to serve the country, I want to serve Pakistan by coaching at any level.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had banned Saleem Malik for life in 2000 in the light of Justice Qayyum's inquiry report on spot-fixing and bribery charges. The ban was lifted.