KARACHI. Dec 31: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Khalid Mahmood today denied he

mu vcuicu 101 me uans on Australian cricketers Shane Wame and Mark Waugh.

"I categorically deny that I have expressed that thought to anyone." Mahmood told Reuters.

Mahmood had been quoted by the agency in a story on December 26 as saying he wanted

the bans.

Pakistan newspapers have reported that the board would push for bans on the two players. who have admitted to taking money from an Indian bookmaker for information on pitch and weather condition during a one-day tournament in Sri Lanka in 1994.

Mahmood added that the issue of banning the players did not come up when Pakistan, Indian and Sri Lankan cricket officials met in New Delhi in midDecember.

Relations between the PCB and its Australian counterpart have been strained since Waugh, Warne and former Test spinner Tim May accused for- ' mer Pakistan captain Salim Malik of offering them bribes to play poorly on the 1994 Australian tour of Pakistan. Malik has denied the allegations.

PCB chief executive Majid Khan was quoted in an interview last week with Pakistan's APP news agency as saying that no matter which countries the cricketers came from, if found n, they should be banned 5 and fined heavily.

The Australian Cricket Board chief executive Malcolm Khas rejected proposals for ns because, he said, the players had already been fined ana the matter officially closed.

A Pakistan Judge conducting an inquiry Into corruption in the game in Pakistan following the allegations against Malik is due to deliver a report around the middle of January.

He has summoned Waugh. Warne and former Australian Cricket Board chairman Alan

Crompton to appear before the inquiry in a special session to be held in Melbourne on Jan-

Warne and Crompton have agreed to give testimony, but Waugh has been taking legal advice before deciding whether to appear.