Karachi: Disgraced former Pakistan captain Saleem Malik, serving a life ban for alleged match-fixing, has got some reprieve after his name was removed from the exit control list which prevented him from travelling abroad.

Malik was banned by the Justice Malik Qayyum commission for his alleged involvement in match-fixing eight years ago.

He said with the coming to power of a new government, he was hoping for more reprieve from the stigma attached to his name.

"I am hoping I can get back to cricket and start my own cricket academy in Pakistan. I would also like to play some domestic cricket," the former skipper said.

Malik was one of several Test captains from different countries to be banned for life when the match-fixing scandal broke out in the late nineties.

Justice Qayyum, who is now attorney general of Pakistan, had headed a 18-month long inquiry into the involvement of some Pakistan players in match fixing and betting and then recommended a life ban for Malik and fines on some other senior players.

All the other indicted players went on to continue playing for Pakistan but Malik's career ended even though he maintains his innocence.

"It has been one of the most difficult periods of my life and I and my family have been severely stigmatised. Hopefully now things will change and my name will be cleared because I still maintain I am innocent," Malik said.

He added that his appeal against the life ban was still pending in the higher courts and he would now ask his lawyer to push the case through.
Source : PTI