A court in Pakistan has adjourned an appeal by Salim Malik, the disgraced former Pakistan captain, against a life ban for match-fixing. A Lahore High Court official told AFP: "Justice Karamat Bhandari has adjourned the hearing until April 30 as Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] lawyer Asgher Haider requested an adjournment as he was not prepared for the case." Salim Malik was banned for life in May 2000 after Pakistan's match-fixing inquiry, conducted by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum, found enough evidence to recommend a ban. The PCB implemented Qayyum's recommendations and barred Malik from all international and first-class cricket, and from holding any cricketing office.

Australian players Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh had all alleged that Malik offered them bribes to underperform during Australia's 1994-95 tour of Pakistan.

An Indian inquiry into match-fixing in November 2000 – which led to a life ban on their former captain, Mohammad Azharuddin – also found Malik guilty.

Malik filed the appeal against his ban in November last year. His lawyer, Raja Jahanzeb Akhtar, accused the PCB of deliberately trying to delay the appeal process again. He told AFP: "Asking for adjournment is again delaying tactics which the PCB has been resorting to since the appeal was filed."

Justice Bhandari has also conducted an inquiry into allegations that two of Pakistan's matches during the 1999 World Cup in England were fixed. The report, which has been submitted to Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf, is likely to be made public later this month.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd