Salim Malik told to stay away

After being left red-faced following Salim Malik's appearance in a one-day friendly, the Pakistan Cricket Board said it has reminded the disgraced former captain of the life ban that bars him from playing cricket at any level.

The instructions came after the stylish former middle-order batsman played in a friendly match between PCB XI and Punjab Governor's XI on July 17.

"We have reminded Salim Malik that he is under a life ban and is not allowed to play cricket. Naturally, we cannot ban him from playing cricket in streets or in his home but will certainly keep a close eye on his cricketing activities in matches involving celebrities," PCB's director Cricket

Operations Saleem Altaf said on Thursday.

Interestingly, Malik played for a team led by former PCB chief Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, the man who slapped the life ban on recommendation of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum in 2000 following the match-fixing scandal.

Altaf, a former Test pacer and chief selector, said the PCB was stunned to hear that Malik had played at the Gaddafi stadium.

"The ground was provided because we had received a request from Governor House that there will be a match involving Governor's Eleven and Gen Tauqir Zia Eleven.

"At no stage we were told that Salim Malik would play in that match," he said.

In another intriguing development, Malik is linked to a tour of India in September with a veterans' team. The veterans' tour is being coordinated by cricketer-turned-actor Mohsin Khan.

"So far we have also heard these rumours but until some concrete surfaces we are not in a position to make a move. But the instructions are loud and clear and Salim Malik can neither play cricket nor can be involved with cricket in any other capacity," according to another PCB official.