Match-fixing controversy surfaces again with Indo-Pak veteran series

Lahore, Apr 22 (UNI) The match-fixing controversy reared its ugly head again even before a ball is bowled in the four-match series between the veteran cricketers of India and Pakistan starting in Karachi tomorrow.

Enraged by the fact that both Mohammad Azharuddin and Manoj Prabhakar, tainted in the scandal, were being allowed to play while he cools his heels on the sidelines, former Pakistan captain Salim Malik has demanded his inclusion for the series.

Malik, indicted in the Justice Qayyum report which found him guilty of match fixing, pointed out the fact that the 16-member Indian team is led by Azhar who is serving a life ban, while it also includes Prabhakar, who served a five-year ban after his names appeared prominently in the same scandal.

''Even Azhar can be allowed to play and he is coming here as the captain of his side then why can't I play?'' a desperate Malik said in a TV interview.

''I have served the Pakistan cricket to the best of my ability and still people have problems when I want to play a veteran cricket series,'' he rued.

Meanwhile, both the BCCI and PCB have washed their hands off the issue, claiming they had nothing to do with the veteran boards.

After BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah distanced the body from the Board for Veteran Cricket in India (BVCI), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) too followed the same path and claimed they had only allowed the Pakistan Seniors Cricket Board (PSCB) to use their infrastructure for the series.

''The senior board is working on its own and it was their decision to invite an Indian team which has Azhar and Prbhakar in the squad. We are in no way associated with this,'' a PCB official said.

Meanwhile, BVCI President and former opener Chetan Chauhan tried to play down the issue and said, ''''Prabhakar has already served his five-year ban and Azhar played last time when we hosted Pakistan. And after all, this is a friendly series between the former players from both the countries.'' UNI XC AY DH PM1844