Unceremonious end to a controversial career?

The selectors and high officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were almost unanimous in sacking Malik for the coming three-match series against India after manager Haroon Rashid complained of the senior batsman’s behaviour on being told he was responsible for loss in the opening match of the Sahara Cup while in sight of victory.

Malik, who sources tell, had shouted back on his manager in reply was fined US$ 500 for misbehavior and to add insult to injury, he is now out of the team.

After the Independence Cup in India in May, then captain Rameez Raja, who was also sacked after the Sahara debacle, had complained to the PCB of Malik’s non-involvement in team affairs.

Malik has been more in the news because of controversies in recent times than with mighty batting efforts though he scored over 500 runs in a home series against Australia and was the single factor in denying tourists a series win.

It was this series which saw charges of “bribe-offering” being levelled against him by three senior Australian cricketers, though a committee appointed by the Pakistan board later absolved him of any misconduct.Malik emerged as winning captain for Pakistan in the series, though his first stint to lead his country had come a season before when the Waqar Younis-led revolt had succeeded on the eve of the tour to Bangladesh and New Zealand.

But the Board ignored Waqar’s claims and instead plumbed for Malik who was recalled after being ignored in two previous series.

It was the third such instance in Pakistan’s cricket history when a compromise captain was chosen. The first was in 1976, when Mushtaq Mohammed emerged as the compromise captain replacing Intikhab Alam when senior professionals rebelled against AH Kardar, the PCB president.

The second occasion was when Imran Khan became the captain for the 1982 England tour when senior players refused to play under Javed Miandad, who in the end was forced to step down.

In New Zealand, Malik was straightaway embroiled in controversy when it was reported that he had picked up the tossed coin before actually letting his counterpart Ken Rutherford see it as well. Malik acted as he had won the toss and declared his intention of bowling first.

In the 1994 Sri Lanka tour, Malik had made a formal complaint about the bowling action of KPJ Warnaweera at the end of the three-day fixture against President’s XI at Matara.