Malik case to be decided within two months

KARACHI: Former captain Salim Malik's long wait for justice would end in next two months as the Supreme Court today directed a lower civil court to hold a retrial of his appeal against the life ban imposed by the Pakisan Cricket Board in 2000 for his alleged involvement in match-fixing.

The apex court at Islamabad directed that the civil court hold a retrial and reach a decision in two months time on the cricketer's appeal.

The 45-year-old Malik has been fighting a legal battle since 2002 to get the life ban removed but after the civil court rejected his appeal he approached the Supreme Court for redress.

Malik was banned by the PCB on the recommendations of the Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum judicial commission which held an 18-months long inquiry into match fixing allegations in Pakistan cricket.

The tribunal found Malik's alleged involvement in match fixing and recommended a life ban on him while fining five other senior players for not cooperating with the inquiry.

Malik told reporters outside the court that he was satisfied with today's ruling as he had waited for eight-long years for justice.

"I have waited long enough to get some reprieve so two months is not a big issue for me. I am confident that the retrial would help me get the ban removed," he said.
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