Pakistani court stays Salim Malik's life ban

A Pakistani court has granted an interim stay to former cricket captain Salim Malik against a life ban for match-fixing, his lawyer said Friday.

Malik filed a suit before civil judge Abdul Qayyum last week seeking a permanent injunction against a life ban on playing cricket and a fine of one million rupees (16,700 dollars) imposed in July, Shahid Hamid said.

The court heard the case on Thursday and granted an "interim stay" until December 7, Hamid, a former governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab, said.

He said the court would issue notices to Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia and the board's former director of operations Yawar Saeed to submit their comments through a lawyer.

Malik, 37, and paceman Ataur Rehman were banned for life following Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum's report on match-fixing released in May.

The PCB had earlier rejected Malik's plea against the penalties.

"The whole object is to overturn this penalty," Hamid said. "Naturally we are hopeful."

Malik's name also featured among nine foreign players allegedly involved in match-fixing and betting in an India probe released earlier this month.

Malik has refused to comment on the Indian report.

Mail Cricket Editor