KARACHI, 9 June 2004 — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said it will allow banned former captain Salim Malik to establish a cricket academy in his hometown of Lahore later this year.

The 41-year-old Malik was banned for life in 2000 by a judicial inquiry commission looking into match-fixing, headed by Lahore High Court judge Malik Mohammad Qayyum.

“We can’t stop him from doing business. He can earn anything as an individual,” PCB Chief Executive Ramiz Raja told Reuters yesterday.

Raja added, however, that his board would neither support nor offer any assistance for any academy set up by Malik.

Malik, one of just three Pakistan players to have played more than 100 Tests for his country, has consistently claimed his innocence of the match-fixing charges and wants a chance to clear his name.

He believes establishing a cricket academy will help remove some of the stigma attached to his name.

“Everywhere I go people say you were Pakistan’s last best batsman,” said Malik, who scored 5,768 runs at an average of 43.69 in 103 Tests.

“You should transfer your knowledge to the next generation and contribute something positive to Pakistan cricket.

“I see nothing wrong in trying to start a coaching academy. Cricket is my profession and I want to pass on my expertise to younger players.”

Malik has filed several court appeals against his ban, all of which have been rejected.

Malik also scored 7,170 runs for Pakistan in 283 one-dayers. His last international appearance was in the 1999 World Cup against India in Manchester.

Aussie Slater Set to Announce Retirement

In Sydney, former Australian Test opener Michael Slater is set to announce his retirement today.

A press conference has been scheduled where Slater is expected to call it a day.

Slater’s career has been in danger of finishing for the past six months after he was hospitalized with reactive arthritis in December.

Unable to walk for some time because of the disease, Slater took no part in the latter half of the Australian season for New South Wales.

At 34, he would have trouble forcing his way back in the NSW line-up and his hopes of a Test recall have vanished. Slater made his Test debut on the 1993 Ashes tour to England and played 74 Tests, scoring 5,312 runs at an average of 42.83 with 14 centuries.

His top score was 219 against Sri Lanka in Perth in 1995-96.

He played 216 first-class matches over 12 years for Australia, NSW and Derbyshire, scoring 14,912 runs at 40.85.