PCB deny Malik appointment

Zakir Khan has clarified the PCB's position on the matter

In an about-turn from yesterday’s announcement, the Pakistan Cricket Board has insisted Salim Malik has not been appointed chief coach of the National Cricket Academy.

PCB media manager Raza Rashid revealed that the 45-year-old former Pakistan captain had been offered the role and had “accepted the offer in principle” but the deal was subject to the agreement of terms and conditions.

However, PCB director of cricket operations Zakir Khan today denied Malik had taken up the role.

“There is no appointment of Salim Malik as a coach of the academies,” he said
.
“He has a meeting with the chairman. But it is not correct that he has been handed a role at the PCB. We’ve clarified this today.”

Another former Pakistan skipper, Rashid Latif, resigned as the academy’s wicketkeeping coach today - citing the appointment of Malik, much to Zakir’s confusion.

“I don’t know why Rashid did that without discussing it first with board,” he said. “He should have contacted us before making that step. We have not appointed Salim to any position.

“He (Malik) had a meeting with our chairman. After that Salim made comments to the media. Those comments have created confusion.

“I also had a call from the ICC who wanted to know what the case was. I informed them the reports were not true and we have clarified that in the media today.”

Malik last month had a life ban overturned by a civil court in Lahore following a protracted legal battle.

The PCB had handed Malik the ban for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal following a two-year enquiry in 1997.