KARACHI. Sept 8 (AFP/ Internet report): The proceedings of a judicial commission probing match fi-

xing in Pakistan cricket has been further delayed as the judge could not attend the hearing due to illness, court officials said Wednesday.

The commission could not hold its proceedings, as the judge. Malik Mohammad Qayyum. "is not feeling well," .Lahore High Court registrar Abdus Salam Khawwar told AFP.

The hearing, expected to Ire the final, will now be held on September 11. after which the commission's findings would be submitted to President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, who is also patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

PCB former chief executive Majid Khan, former captain Rashid Latif. Sarfraz Nawaz and Basit All were summoned

for cross examination by Wasim's counsel, Khawaia. Tariq Rahim, who specifically had requested their presence at. the last hearing.

Latif reportedly accused batsman Salim Malik and skipper Wasim Akram of involvement. in match fixing.

The News daily meanwhile reported that the wicketkeepr submitted an application with the court seeking two weeks time.

Latif sent his application on Tuesday to the commission and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). asking for two weeks time to appear along with his legal counsel. ... .

With Latifs’ tippearanc*' doubt, it will be interesting to see how the commission handles this situation since he is one of the key figures in bringing the match-fixing issue to the fore and making direct accusations against Malik.

Without Latif being cross examined. the commission might

find it difficult to justify completing its inquiry. Latif, who was in the Pakistan camp which was wrapped up today in Lahore, has interestingiy also asked the commission to allow his legal counsel to question Ataur Rehman who at the last hearing withdrew his sworn affidavit in which he had accused Wasim of asking him to take part in a fixed match.

Judge Qaayum's inquiry was initiated in September last year and since then statements of more than 60 players, officials, alleged bookies and journalists have been recorded.

The charges were first levelled against former captain Malik by Australian players Shane Warne. Tim May and Mark Waugh, who said Malik offered them bribes to play poorly during their team's tour of Pakistan in 1998.

Akram, Malik and batsman Ijaz, implicated in an interim report of the PCB last year, have Eigen suspended by a PCB ad-hoc committee.

Their fate now rests on the judicial commission's findings.

The national selection committee meanwhile has axed leg-spinning all-rounder Shahid Afridi from the 15-member Pakistan squad they have submitted with the Board for the Toronto series against the West Indies.

The selectors have laid ■ stress on spin while finalising their squad, which Includes three specialist spinners in Saqlain Mushtaq. Arshad Khan and Mushtaq Ahmed. Afridi, who did not have a successful World Cup in England, finds himself out of the Pakistan line-up after consistently featuring in all one-day teams since the last Sahara Cup series held in Toronto in September 1998.

But while leaving out the talented but enigmatic allrounder, the selectors have reposed faith in couple of youngsters. while also recalling vet-<*ran opener and former captain Aamir Sohail. Still, the lefthander has not been entrusted with the captaincy, the responsibility of which goes to Moin Khan in the absence of Wasim.