PCB extends deadline for Malik, Akmal, Kaneria to answer Integrity Committee’s queries

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed former skipper Shoaib Malik, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to submit their replies to the Integrity Committee’s queries by the end of this month.

Well-informed sources told Dawn that the three players, who are facing an inquiry about their suspected role in match-fixing scams, had requested the PCB to extend the deadline for answering the sensitive queries regarding the record of their moveable and immovable properties, and about their off-field activities, etc.

“Accepting their request, the PCB allowed them to submit the replies any time before the end of December. In view of the same, the PCB also requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to extend the date for submission of the list of 30 probables for the World Cup- from Dec 19 to some time in January. It is learnt that the ICC has extended the date now to Jan 5,” the sources revealed.

They also disclosed that the PCB had earlier remained tight-lipped about the reasons of sidelining the trio from the South Africa and New Zealand series, as they were awaiting a final clearance on the initial list of 40 probables sent to the ICC.

But after the ICC later changed its policy, and instead of taking the burden of excluding any player over corruption allegations, asked the PCB to do this job itself, the board decided to make its own inquiries before short-listing the probables for the World Cup.

The ICC has also issued strict instructions to the PCB that it will be held totally responsible for selecting any player who has a dubious record vis-’-vis the match-fixing saga. (ANI)