Pakistani inquiry judge questions Mushtaq's appointment

KARACHI, Sep 18 (Reuters) A Pakistani judge who held a long inquiry into match-fixing allegations against the Pakistan team has expressed surprise at the appointment of leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed as assistant coach for the Champions Trophy.

Retired judge Malik Qayyum today said he was surprised that the Pakistan cricket authorities had ignored his recommendations on Mushtaq in his match-fixing report.

''I had recommended in the report that Wasim Akram and Mushtaq should be kept under observation,'' Qayyum told Reuters.

''I had recommended they should not be appointed to any position of authority or responsibility.'' Qayyum spent nearly 18 months between 1998 and 2000 looking into match-fixing allegations against players.

His report recommended a life ban for former captain Saleem Malik and fines for Wasim, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq, Aaqib Javed and current captain Inzamam-ul-Haq for not cooperating with the inquiry.

He also recommended that Wasim and Mushtaq should not be given any responsibility in the light of the inquiry's findings.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday that Mushtaq had been appointed as an assistant coach for the Champions Trophy in India starting on Oct. 7.

The leg-spinner, who plays for English county Sussex, was a bowling consultant during Pakistan's last home series against England and India.

Senior PCB official Abbas Zaidi said the board had satisfied itself about every aspect of Mushtaq's conduct in recent years.

''The match-fixing issue is an old episode. As it is Mushtaq is there for just one tournament and is not an active a member of the playing squad,'' Zaidi said.

He said Mushtaq had been playing for Sussex for the last three years without any problems.

Reuters PM GC1649