Pakistan reject misgivings over Mushtaq

ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (Reuters) The Pakistan Cricket Board has rejected misgivings by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the appointment of leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed as assistant coach for the team at the Champions Trophy starting tomorrow.

A board official said that ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed had sent a message pointing out that Mushtaq's appointment in the ICC organised tournament was unexpected given his role in a match-fixing scandal some years back.

''But the board chairman Shaharyar Khan rejected the point raised by Speed over Mushtaq,'' the official, who did not wish to be named, told Reuters today.

Shaharyar resigned as chairman today and is expected to be replaced by Dr Naseem Ashraf, another board member and government official.

Mushtaq was one of the seven players named in a match-fixing inquiry carried out by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum between 1998 and 2000 over allegations that some Pakistani players had fixed matches.

In his report, Qayyum recommended a life ban on former captain Saleem Malik and fines on five other players, comprising current captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar, for not co-operating with the inquiry.

Wasim Akram since his retirement from the international scene in 2003 has not been given any official position in Pakistan cricket.

But Mushtaq, who has enjoyed tremendous success with English county Sussex this year, was named last month as assistant to Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer for the duration of the Champions Trophy.

The spinner, who has made 52 test and 144 one-day international appearances, was drafted into the test squad in the home series against England towards the end of last year, but did not play.

He was later appointed as bowling consultant in the one-dayers and than bowling coach for the series against India earlier this year.

REUTERS DKB KN2337