Shoaib Malik faces match-throwing inquiry by AFP

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Ground:	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Scorecard:	Karachi Zebras v Sialkot Stallions
Player:	Shoaib Malik
Event:	ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup 2004/05

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DateLine: 29th April 2005

 

Pakistan's cricket all-rounder Shoaib Malik has been fined and faces a misconduct inquiry after he deliberately threw a domestic Twenty-20 Cup match, officials said.

 

The 23-year-old Malik, leading his hometown Sialkot team, admitted conceding a match against the Karachi Zebras on Tuesday as a protest against being penalised for a slow over-rate.

 

Malik was fined 10,000 rupees (around 170 US dollars) by match referee Rizwan Khateeb for admitting the offense in television comments, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Abbas Zaidi told AFP on Friday.

 

"A three-member committee has been formed and Malik has been asked to appear before it on Saturday," the spokesman said.

 

"Malik met the PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan last night and has apologised for his behaviour and television comments in public," he added.

 

However Khan said the incident "may jeopardise" Malik's inclusion in the Pakistan team which tours the West Indies for three one-day games and two Tests next month.

 

The player admitted in a television interview that what he did was a mark of protest as his team had already been penalised for a slow-over rate in another match, against Lahore.

 

Malik, who has so far played eight Tests and 99 one-day internationals for Pakistan, refused to comment Friday, saying he had already apologised and would face the inquiry.

 

The PCB spokesman suggested the formation of an anti-corruption unit to deal with such matters in future.

 

Pakistani cricket has been tainted by allegations of match-fixing in the past with former captain Saleem Malik banned for life and several others fined after an inquiry, including current skipper Inzamam-ul Haq and now-retired Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

 

Sialkot were chasing 176 to win and needed only 20 off the last three overs, but ended at 171-3, losing by four runs.

 

Malik's decision helped Karachi Zebras to earn a place in the triangular stage of the event but the PCB declared the result of the match null and void, eliminating both teams from the second stage.

 

Pakistan launched the first ever Twnety-20 Cup, in which each team plays a 20-over innings, after similar events were a big success in England, Australia and South Africa.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)