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Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir delivers a ball during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Chittagong Vikings and Rangpur Riders at the Sher-e-Bangla cricket stadium in Dhaka on November 22, 2015. (AFP)
As the debate continues on whether it is right to recall tainted Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir, former batsman Saleem Malik serving a life ban from cricket feels he too deserves a "second chance".
One of the most gifted Pakistan batsman of his generation, Malik played 103 Tests, scoring at an average of 43.69 with 15 centuries and 29 fifties to his credit.
However, he was banned for life in 2000 from playing cricket, holding any office and from involvement in any cricket-playing activity following a match-fixing investigation which rocked Pakistan cricket in the 1990s.
With the embattled Amir set to make a comeback to the Pakistan side, the 52-year-old Malik has once again appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give him another chance.
“I’m not angry or bitter. It just hurts. I played so many matches for Pakistan, I took part in so many great wins and even single-handedly won and saved matches for my country so why can’t I be given a second chance as others have been?” said Malik in an exclusive interview with pakpassion.net.
Malik, banned for life following Justice Malik Qayyum’s recommendation, feels that he has been made a scapegoat.
Saleem Malik (Getty)
“I was nearing my international career’s end, so, I was made the scapegoat. They had to find one or two scapegoats,” Malik said.
Rashid Latif, former captain and wicketkeeper, was the first cricketer to blow the whistle on match-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1995.
Latif’s allegations prompted the Pakistan government to initiate a probe which saw Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman being banned for life, while Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamamul Haq and Akram Raza received fines.
Malik, who has tried to get his ban lifted on several occasions in the past, was upset for not being treated in a fair manner.
“Justice should be equal for all,” he said, adding: “My question to those in authority has always been why I was treated differently to others? Why was I punished so harshly? Why was I shown no remorse or given a second chance?”
Commenting on the 2010 spot-fixing saga and the characters involved in it, Malik said the trio of Salman Butt, Amir and Mohammad Asif deserve a second chance since they have served time for their misdeeds.
He said: “Islam teaches us that if someone has made a mistake or sinned and is punished, and asks for forgiveness then we should give that person another chance.
“I think all three of them can play for Pakistan and they still have a future in international cricket. Amir has a lot of cricket ahead of him, he can be world-class again. He has apologised and should be given another opportunity just as Asif and Butt should.”
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