Match Fixing News
 

Rashid Latif not pleased with Judicial Commission working

                             By Waheed Khan
KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif on Tuesday expressed surprise at the decision of the Judicial Inquiry Commission to summon 12 players for a hearing tomorrow in Lahore, in which the accused and the accusers in the match-fixing and betting scandal would face each other in the open court. "I am surprised at this development, because whatever I had to say I have stated before the Judicial commission. I don't agree to this practice of the players who
have brought the match-fixing and betting issue to the fore having to face the accused players in a open court," stated Latif. The Judicial Commission has summoned 12 players/persons for a hearing on Thursday. These include Wasim Akram, Saleem Malik, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ijaz Ahmed, Waqar Younis, Moin Khan, Rashid Latif, Aamer Sohail, Basit Ali, Ata-ur-Rahman, Intikhab Alam (former manager) and Saleem Pervaiz (former international and now alleged bookie). The last six named have been accused in one way or the other and first five of being linked to match-fixing and betting in international cricket. At Thursday's hearing, the Commission will read out the statements made by the accusers and then the accused players would have the right to cross examine them. Latif's argument was that what was the purpose of the Judicial Commission holding in-camera hearings and sessions with him, Basit, Ata-ur-Rahman, Saleem Pervaiz or Aamer Sohail, if eventually the accused and the accusers had to face each other in an open court. He made it clear that he was not against the principle of allowing the accused players the chance to cross examine their accusers. "I am only against this open court thing, where the players will face each other and trade allegations. This same hearing could also have been held in-camera with Mr Justice Muhammad Malik
Qayyum presiding and concerned lawyers also being present."
Latif candidly questioned what was the purpose of having a Judicial Commission, a honourable Judge and a legal advisor of the cricket board, when the players and people who had brought the menace of match-fixing and betting into public had to undergo such an exercise.Rashid said he might not be able to attend the hearing since while he himself was not keeping well, his father had also been admitted to the hospital with a paralysis
attack. "I had informed the Board that I would not be able to join the Pakistan camp before January 5 due to domestic problems." Cricket circles generally have expressed surprise at the Judicial Commission's decision to hold the open hearing and point out that with the PCB Council due to announce the captain and shortly afterwards the team for the Indian tour, what sort of repercussions would the hearing have for some of the involved players. However, when one spoke to Aamer Sohail and Basit Ali, both of them were clear that they would be attending the hearing on Thursday. Sohail said he saw this as the crunch time of the Judicial Commission inquiry into the serious allegations and he would definitely appear to repeat what he has said earlier. He also confirmed receiving the letter from the Board in this connection. Basit remarked he had nothing to hide and would have no problems attending the hearing.
 
 

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