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Qayyum report to be tabled at ICC meet

The Pakistan Cricket Board has expressed its readiness to table the Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum inquiry report on match-fixing at the special meeting of the International Cricket Council in London on May 2.

''Pakistan is ready to table the inquiry report on match-fixing during the special ICC meeting,'' PCB director (cricket operations) Yawar Saeed told Gulf News from Lahore.

Saeed, who will represent the PCB at the ICC meeting, will be given the Justice Qayyum report tomorrow.

''We are very keen to clear our cricketers from the match-fixing scandal. We are willing to cooperate to end the menace of match-fixing once and for all," Saeed said.

His comment came amid reports that Pakistani cricket officials have been asked to present the report at the ICC meeting next week.

A leading Pakistani daily said instructions in this regard had come from ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya.

The Justice Qayyum Commission probed allegations of corruption in the Pakistani game and submitted the report to the government in October 1998. However, its contents have not been made public, nor has the government or PCB acted on it.

PCB chairman General Tauqir Zia was supposed to attend the meeting along with Saeed but he has since pulled out owing to engagements at home, the Gulf News said.

''I will be meeting Gen. Zia for a briefing on Pakistan's stance at the meeting,'' Saeed said.

Asked if Justice Qayyum had recommended action against seven cricketers in his report, Saeed said: ''Even though I will be carrying the report to London, I am yet to read it. I am yet to discuss the contents of the report with the PCB chief.''

On United Cricket Board of South Africa managing director Ali Bacher's allegation that the Pakistan-Bangladesh match in the World Cup last year was fixed, he said: ''I have already rejected his allegation; his charges should have been backed with evidence. We have found that his statement is full of contradictions and lacks credibility.''

Saeed said Bacher has also violated the rules of the code of conduct followed by members of the ICC. ''If he knew that this particular match was fixed, why has he remained silent for so long? It is unfortunate that Bacher decided to go public about it instead of informing the PCB first.''

Saeed made it clear that as far as the PCB is concerned, the country's interests are of paramount importance.

''No one should make allegations unless they can back it up with solid evidence,'' he said.

UNI