Life ban for Malik lifted

Salim Malik savours the court's ruling, which quashed his conviction for match-fixing

A Pakistan civil court has lifted the life ban on former skipper Salim Malik after clearing him of match-fixing.

Australians Mark Waugh, Shane Warne and Tim May had alleged that Malik had offered them a bribe to underperform during Australia's tour of Pakistan in 1994.

In 1995 the Pakistan Cricket Board commissioned Justice Fakhruddin Ibrahim to investigate the charges, but he cleared Malik after the Australia players refused to travel to Pakistan to testify.

The investigation was then handed to High Court judge Malik Mohammad Qayyum, who recorded testimonies from the players in Australia. The ban was finally imposed after a two-year inquiry.

"I am a relieved man. I feel vindicated," Malik said. "Now I can go into coaching which is something I had always wanted to do."

Tafazzul Rizvi, the PCB's legal adviser, confirmed the board would honour the court's ruling.

"(The) PCB did not impose the ban; we just implemented the recommendations of (the) inquiry tribunal," he said. "We will honour the decision of the session court and will not file an appeal against the ruling."

Malik averaged 43 during a 103-Test career from 1982 to 1999. He also played 283 one-day internationals and captained the side from 1993 to 1995.