Banned Malik ready to meet anti-corruption chief

Former Pakistan captain Salim Malik, who is serving a life ban from cricket, is willing to meet anti-corruption chief Sir Paul Condon in an attempt to clear his name.

Condon, the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption unit, is to arrive in Lahore on May 25 for a three-day visit, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday.

Condon and two of his associates are coming at the special invitation of the PCB, but not as part of their investigation into cricket match-fixing.

However, Malik told Reuters from Lahore: "I will go the full distance to get my name cleared. I would be more than pleased to meet ICC investigators if asked to by the board."

Malik and former test fast bowler Ata-ur-Rehman were handed life bans by the PCB last year on the recommendation of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum, who investigated charges of corruption in Pakistani cricket.

Six other Pakistan test players, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar and Mushtaq Ahmed, were censured and fined by Qayyum. The five are currently touring England with the Pakistan team.

The PCB said Condon, former head of London's Metropolitan Police, had not asked to meet any players.

"If Condon wants to meet any player or someone who assisted Justice Qayyum in the Pakistan inquiry, we would be pleased to arrange a meeting. But so far, we have not received any request from the ICC," the PCB spokesman said.

The PCB opposed Condon's appointment as ICC's chief investigator last year, but softened its line in February during an ICC executive board meeting in Melbourne and invited Condon to visit Pakistan.

Mail Cricket Editor