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The Justice Quayyum Report

Thereafter some tapes that had been produced by Rashid Latif were examined as were others that he submitted at later dates. These tapes contained the following conversations:

Conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Basit Ali' and 'Saeed Anwar',
Conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Basit Ali' and Salim Malik,
Conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Zia-ur-Rehman', brother of Ata-ur-Rehman,
Conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Ata-ur-Rehman' (and Ata's friend Makha),
Conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Saeed Anwar' (Poor Quality)
Another conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Saeed Anwar' (Poor Quality)
Conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Javed Burki'
Conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Arif Abbassi'
Conversation between Rashid Latif and Khalid Mehmood
Conversation between Rashid Latif and 'Dan Keisel' (very poor quality)

Efforts were made to authenticate these tapes, but such technology does not seem available in Pakistan.

However, these tapes do appear authentic. They contained conversations of various lengths (possibly too long to be manufactured) and the voices, nicknames, languages employed in them, and the matters talked about all seem to indicate that these were authentic. Rashid Latif has further under oath vouched for their authenticity. However, in light of the fact that these cannot be authenticated this Commission will give them only reduced weight.

Furthermore, a reason that makes this commission not be completely taken by these tapes is that some of the conversations of the tapes, when they were initially submitted, had been edited. Initially when Rashid Latif was asked as to why he had edited the tapes, he said because they contained insults, etc. He was asked to produce the original tapes nonetheless. The tapes that he submitted showed that this was not the only reason why the tapes had been edited. Crucially, mention of Basit Ali's involvement in match-fixing had been totally taken out of the tape containing conversation two (between Rashid Latif, Basit Ali and Salim Malik) when Rashid Latif submitted it to this Commission. Furthermore, some of Saeed Anwar's involvement in conversation one, in getting Salim Malik to call Rashid Latif and Basit had been cut out too. Subsequently, when Rashid Latif was asked to name who was the 'friend' mentioned in conversation 6, Rashid unconvincingly said it was Aamir Sohail. It appeared clear to this commission that the 'friend' was Saeed Anwar and the tape incriminated him to some extent. In light of these lingering doubts, it appeared to this commission that Rashid Latif may well have wanted to protect his friends, Saeed Anwar and Basit Ali. Rashid Latif may well have thought that these two can or should be protected as they by most accounts are allegedly one-time offenders. But that if indeed that is what happened, was not for him to decide.

When asked as to why the tapes had been initially edited, Latif stated that the tapes had been in the safekeeping of a relative of Basit Ali's and they had been edited by this relative or someone for the sake of this relative of Basit's, as the relative was a heart patient. Perhaps this was the truth but these actions made the tapes tainted and the Commission is also aware of the chance, albeit not a great one, that some or all the tapes may well have been doctored or manufactured.

Moreover, when Rashid Latif was thereafter asked to produce the original copies, he produced some somewhat unedited copies. There were some discrepancies in one of the tapes that made us believe that the Commission was not given the originals.

Further, Rashid Latif has stated that he has not submitted all the tapes he made as the others contained meaningless conversation. This also presents the commission with the possibility that the picture presented to it may well be skewed as only certain conversations may have been submitted to it.

. In light of all of this, the Commission chose to give the tapes limited weight: to use them as weak corroboration, especially if denied, and primarily as a source of leads to be followed.

Summaries of these conversations are found in the Appendix II.

Lines of investigation arising out of the tapes pursued

In response to the Rashid Latif tapes, the inquiry was reopened and more people were called by the Commission.

First to be called was Rashid Latif. He vouched for the authenticity of the tapes under oath. Further, he explained the various nicknames (referred to above) used in the tapes. He swore that the tapes were authentic and unedited [after the 'edited out names' incident reported above.]

Further, when the commission pressed Rashid Latif to name the four players who were present when Salim Malik made him an offer before the Christchurch match, he did name them. They were according to him:

Waqar Younis, Akram Raza, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Basit Ali.

Then Ata-ur-Rehman was confronted with his cassette. He denied that the voice he heard was his voice. He further added that the first affidavit he had submitted had been at the insistence of Aamir Sohail. Aamir Sohail had wanted to become the captain of the team and so wanted to have Wasim Akram displaced.

Thereafter Salim Malik was confronted by his tape. He accepted that the voice was his. He offered explanations for his comments. He stated that all he had been saying in the tape was that rather than the players falsely accusing each other in the press, they should all get together and work their differences out.

Rashid Latif was then cross-examined by the counsels for Wasim Akram and Salim Malik. He stated that the issue of match-fixing first came to light when he raised it. The first article was written by Usman Shirazi on the basis of information supplied to him by Rashid. Salim Malik and he, Rashid said, have different world-views but there was never any enmity between them. Rashid noted that even when a Board enquiry was held against Salim Malik, it was only done in the context of the Australian allegations and Rashid was not called. He had in fact applied to the Board in 1995, but that is not on the record of the Board now. Then in 1997, he made an application to the board which was received by Mr. Majid Khan. On none of his applications an enquiry was held. He was not even called before the probe committee. Arif Abassi and tour mangers had been told of match-fixing by Rashid. Saleem Altaf held an enquiry in Zimbabwe in which Rashid was told to forget everything. Rashid asserted that he had told Arif Abbassi everything and this can be confirmed by the taped conversation he has submitted between Rashid and Arif Abassi. The toss and inclusion of Akram Raza instead of Kabir Khan was crucial. Half of the team wanted to bat first.

Basit then stated that he did not know if Basit Ali was involved in match-fixing. Basit stated that he was friends with all his team-mates and that it was incorrect to suggest that he and Basit had a special relationship. Rashid accepted that he knew tapping phones was an offence, but he said, he did it all to reveal the truth to the public. It was suggested to him that he was doing this because of the Karachi-Lahore rivalry against Punjabi players. Rashid Latif denied this. Moreover, he stated that all he was doing was telling the truth and the Salim Malik counsel's statement that he was harming the Pakistani name abroad was only an unfortunate consequence. Lastly he denied any malice or lies in his statement.

The four players named by Rashid Latif were called. Three appeared. Basit Ali seemed to have been struck down with Jaundice. Arrangements were tried to be made for his statement to be recorded over the phone. However, those arrangements fell through.

Waqar Younus re-appeared before the Commission and stated that he did not recall a time when he was called to Salim Malik's room for a particular purpose on the New Zealand tour. It is incorrect to suggest that in his presence, with Basit Ali, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Akram Raza there, Malik offered Rashid Latif money to throw a match. He did not recall how many wickets he took in the match as he had played to many matched to remember. Similarly he could not remember whether Wasim Akram bowled in that match and also could not recall if Wasim bowled badly deliberately. It is true that the sky was overcast. But he could not recall if he was told to bowl quickly so that the match would finish before the rain. However, as they are required to bowl a certain number of overs in an hour, the team always tries to bowl quickly.

Inzamam-ul-Haq appeared and stated that he did play in the Christchurch match. He denied there was an instance when he was in room with Basit Ali, Akram Raza and Waqar Younis when Malik may have offered Rashid Latif money to throw the match. He recalled that Pakistan did lose the match, making 145 runs batting first and New Zealand reaching the target for the loss of three wickets in 35 overs. In his view no one bowled badly deliberately. He did not remember Wasim Akram's performance in the match. He did recall though that the pitch was difficult for batsmen early on. He did not recall about the bad weather, threat of imminent rain, bowling fast or excessive wides and no-balls. He did not think the match was fixed as he gave 100% from his side.

Akram Raza was called for the first time. He under oath stated that while he and Malik remained together most of the time on the New Zealand tour, it is incorrect to state that they, Waqar, Inzamam, Basit Ali and Rashid Latif were together (in Malik's room) at any time. Moreover, it incorrect that Rashid Latif was offered any money by Malik in his presence. Raza accepted that he did play in the fifth one-day and he did recall that all the one-days were low scoring, but he does not recall who batted first. Pakistan must have made 200 in that match. He does not recall the weather, overcast conditions or threat of imminent rain.

Under cross-examination by Mr. Fazli, Akram Raza reiterated that it is incorrect to say Malik offered Latif money in front of him. He and Malik were team-mates in domestic Cricket since 1986. After he left the team, Raza accepted, he did hear of instances of incidents of match-fixing which appeared in the press. He remembered players talking among themselves about the allegations. He did not however recall who were the players who were talking. He did volunteer that there was a time when Intikhab Alam in Sri Lanka had asked all the players not to use their mobile phones. Four or five players had these phones. They were Salim Malik, Wasim Akram, Basit Ali, and maybe Waqar Younis. He himself was there in Sri Lanka too.

Saeed Anwar who was also called by the commission in light of the tapes made a supplementary statement: He stated that he remembered going to Rashid Latif once in Sri Lanka with the apprehension that a match had been fixed. Some people had come to Sri Lanka and there were rumors that they were there to fix matches. Rashid told everyone in the morning that he has heard of match-fixing and that he will not spare anybody. Since, 1994/95, he, Saeed, has kept himself aloof from the team in view of persistent rumors of match-fixing. For two years he and Rashid Latif made noises about match-fixing. In Sri Lanka Saeed told the manager Intikhab Alam of his suspicions and Intikhab told him to keep quiet. However, Saeed said he has no direct evidence against anyone.

At Christchurch, he had just come back into the team after a year and a half. He could not say whether the match was fixed. However, he did confront Wasim Akram with the allegation and Wasim has always denied it.

While he was batting in Sri Lanka, Saeed says he received repeated messages which surprised him as he was playing at his best. He had made 47 when the messages came. Further Salim Pervez and his group had been present when the one-day was played at Kaitarama. Rashid Latif had told me that he was offered money by Malik but that was during the South Africa tour. It is however correct that some person called him Saeed up in Sri Lanka and offered him money. He informed Rashid Latif of it.

Thereafter, Mr. Khalid Mahmood was called in the matter of his conversation with Mr. Rashid Latif. After hearing the tape, Mr. Mehmood was quite pleased to accept that it was his voice on the tape.

Imran Khan (for corroboration of Ata telling him of accusation against Wasim Akram), Javed Burki (to let him hear his tape), Arif Abbassi (to confront him with his tape and get information from him about what Saeed Anwar told him) were summoned. However, for various reasons they were unable to appear before the commission before the closing date.

Ata-ur-Rehman appeared again in response to his show-cause notice. He was further asked about Imran Khan's statement that Ata had told him about an offer having been made to him by Wasim Akram. Ata stated that he had done so and that he had told Imran of the offer after the news had broken in the newspapers.

Imran Khan in the meanwhile did through his attorney confirm that Ata had indeed told him about the Wasim accusation after the news had broken in the newspapers.

Continued....