Lahore, 30th April: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Khalid Mehmood has slammed Wasim Akram’s integrity, according to reviews. Akram had individually offered match-fixing to fast bowler Atta-ur-Rehman.
In Pakistan cricket, the echo of match-fixing has all over again reached a climax and a Pandora’s Box has been opened following the revelations of the former chairman of the PCB in this regard.
Recently Umar Akmal was banned for 3 years on corruption charges, whilst debate on the return of life banned Saleem Malik was hot among the cricketing circuits.
In an exclusive interview with Dawn News, former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood made shocking revelations and leveled allegations toward former national team captain Wasim Akram. He said that Wasim Akram used to offer a bribe to pace bowler Atta-ur-Rehman to underperform during the match it uses to be a sum of 2-3 Lacs in the 90s.
Saleem Malik ready to respond to the PCB
He stated that as a result, Atta-ur-Rehman had bowled poorly in matches for the money received from Wasim Akram. Atta had confessed this within the affidavit submitted to the Justice Qayyum Commission.
Prominent wicketkeeper Rashid Latif, for the first time in his 1995 tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa, unearthed match-fixing in Pakistan cricket and blamed his teammates Saleem Malik and others.
In that year, Australian spinners Shane Warren, Tim May and Mark Waugh claimed that Saleem Malik had offered him a bribe in return for poor performance during Australia’s Tour of Pakistan in 1994. Based on those allegations, the Pakistani government In 1998, a judicial commission headed via Lahore High Court Judge Malik Muhammad Qayyum ordered an inquiry, which years later banned Saleem Malik and fellow speedster Atta-ur-Rehman for life.
Ramiz Raja called Umar Akmal an ‘Idiot’
Justice Qayyum Commission interrogated six-game enthusiasts, Wasim Akram. Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Akram Raza had been, who were fined for their role.
A few years later, the life ban on both Atta-ur-Rehman and Saleem Malik was lifted.
Continuing his speech, Khalid Mahmood said that in view of the extreme stress, Atta-ur-Rehman had retracted his confession in which he had stated that Wasim Akram had bribed him to be a part of match-fixing.
Atta-ur-Rehman was asked to stick to his confession instead of backing down and I, as the chairman of the PCB, will absolutely help him. Former chairman of the PCB said that no matter my assurances, the quicky withdrew from his statement saying that he had made the confession in a rush and that he had misunderstood the problem and was banned for lifestyles.
Khalid Mahmood further shed suspicions on three world cup 1999 fixtures, considered one of which was played with Bangladesh. It was the first show up for Bangladesh in the world cup and the Pakistani team had defeated strong teams like Australia, the West Indies, and New Zealand.
Umar Akmal’s blunder while appearing at the Cricket Academy
Whereas in the match Batting first scored 223 runs for the loss of nine wickets in response to which the Pakistani team got out for only 161 runs.
The doubts are on the final of the tournament as well were Pakistan was favorite and knowing about the conditions of Lord’s ground, all the cricket experts believed that whoever wins the toss would want to bowl first however to our surprise captain Wasim Akram decided to bat first.
“As a result of this, we were bowled out for modest 132 runs and lost the final in a totally embarrassing manner. “I requested the player to inform if they witnessed any suspicious activity but all the players answered in the negative and after the World Cup, I was removed from the post of Chairman PCB.
The former chairman of the PCB said, “I anticipate the cricket chiefs who got here after I needed to investigate those 3 games and dig down the truth.”
Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more news and updates!
Former Captain Salman Butt appeals for the restoration of Institutional Cricket
