‘Disgraced’ former batsman Malik applies for Pak national batting coach role

Johannesburg: Shamed former Pakistan batsman Salim Malik, who was banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2000 after a judicial inquiry found him guilty of offering bribes to Australian players to lose, has revealed he has applied for the job of national batting coach, insisting he is not disqualified after a court lifted his life ban four years ago.

Australian trio Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh alleged Malik offered them huge sums to underperform during their team`s tour to Pakistan in 1994. Malik, who always pleaded his innocence, was also named in an inquiry conducted by India``s Central Bureau of Investigation, which led to life bans on their captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma. A court in Lahore lifted the ban on Malik in October 2008, but the International Cricket Council (ICC), which reportedly blocked his appointment to the PCB academy in Lahore in 2008, has not endorsed the decision, and he now claims that he is clear of all fixing charges. “I am cleared and my life ban was lifted four years ago. I am cleared by the PCB and the ICC so I can now be involved in any cricket related activity,” Sports24 quoted Malik, as saying. The fact Malik does not have a level III coaching qualification, as required by the PCB, has not put him off. “A Test cricketer like me doesn`t need any coaching course or any certificate. I have the ability to help the batsmen overcome their problems which have been the main hurdle in team`s performance,” Malik said. ANI