A dramatic Test match in Karachi in 1994 became the setting for one of cricket’s most talked-about match-fixing allegations. On the eve of the final day, Australian leg-spin great Shane Warne said he was approached by Pakistan captain Salim Malik with an offer of US$200,000 each for Warne and fellow spinner Tim May.

The alleged condition was simple: both Australians had to bowl poorly the following day, particularly outside the off stump, allowing Pakistan to avoid defeat and secure a draw.

Warne rejected the offer and reported the incident to Australian captain Mark Taylor and coach Bob Simpson. He later recounted the episode in detail in his autobiography, No Spin.

The late-night meeting with Salim Malik

Australia were playing the first Test of their 1994 tour of Pakistan in Karachi. It was also Mark Taylor’s first Test as captain. At the end of the fourth day, Pakistan were 155 for three and needed 314 runs to win.

Warne was sharing a hotel room with fellow spinner Tim May when the telephone rang that evening. The caller was Pakistan captain Salim Malik, who asked Warne to come to his room for a private conversation.

Warne initially suggested that Malik explain the matter over the phone. Malik insisted that it was urgent and that they needed to speak face to face.

When Warne arrived, Malik was wearing a traditional white Pakistani kurta. According to Warne’s account, Malik soon made his offer: US$200,000 for each Australian spinner, with the cash to be delivered to their hotel rooms within half an hour.

In return, they were expected to bowl well outside the off stump throughout the following day. Pakistan’s batters would leave the deliveries alone, and the match would end in a draw.

Warne initially wondered whether Malik was joking. But he soon realised that the Pakistan captain was serious.

The Australian spinner refused. He acknowledged that US$200,000 was a substantial amount of money, but made it clear that he would not accept payment to help his team lose. Australia, he insisted, would take the field to win.

Warne tells Tim May and reports the approach

Warne returned to his room and told Tim May what had happened. May initially laughed at the story, but his reaction changed when Warne made it clear that the offer was genuine.

The two Australians quickly agreed that their captain and coach needed to know. They contacted Mark Taylor and Bob Simpson and described the conversation in full.

Warne later recalled that Taylor and Simpson were stunned. It was Taylor’s first Test as captain, and Australia were in a strong position to push for victory. Now, two of his leading bowlers were reporting that the opposing captain had allegedly offered them a huge sum to deliberately bowl badly.

Malik had asked Warne to take time to think about the offer and respond by the following morning. But Warne said his decision was already made: he would not take the money.

A dramatic finish as Pakistan win by one wicket

The final day produced a tense contest. Pakistan still had a difficult target, but the pitch was offering turn and Warne was confident of making an impact.

After taking one wicket late on the fourth day, Warne claimed four more on the final day. At one stage, Pakistan needed 159 runs with seven wickets remaining. When the ninth wicket fell, they still required 56.

Australia appeared close to victory. Inzamam-ul-Haq tried to protect the strike, while Mushtaq Ahmed battled alongside him. Australian bowler Joe Angel was also creating pressure.

Warne recalled a crucial moment when Angel appeared to trap Inzamam leg before wicket, only for the umpire to turn down the appeal.

With Pakistan needing just three runs near the end, Taylor asked Warne how they could dismiss Inzamam. Warne suggested bowling a sharply turning delivery towards leg stump, leaving a gap at midwicket in the hope that Inzamam would miss and be stumped.

The ball landed as planned, but Inzamam missed it. The wicketkeeper also failed to stop the delivery, which raced away for four byes.

Pakistan eventually won the Test by one wicket, completing a remarkable turnaround and leaving Australia devastated.

Warne’s uncomfortable moment at the presentation ceremony

Despite the defeat, Warne was named Player of the Match. But as he went up to collect the award, he came face to face with Malik.

According to Warne, the Pakistan captain made a sarcastic remark suggesting that the Australian would have been better off accepting the money.

Warne later wrote that he was furious. He managed to control himself, but the encounter remained one of the most unforgettable moments of his career.

The Qayyum Commission and the lifetime-ban recommendation

The allegations were later examined by the judicial inquiry established by the Pakistan Cricket Board and headed by Justice Qayyum.

The commission considered Warne’s account of the alleged approach before the 1994 Karachi Test. It found his testimony credible and concluded that Malik had attempted to fix the Test match by offering money to the Australian bowlers.

The report recommended that Malik be banned from all forms of cricket for life. It also recommended a lifetime ban for former Pakistan bowler Ata-ur-Rehman.

Malik denied the allegations, maintaining that no such meeting or offer had taken place. However, the commission also considered Tim May’s evidence, which supported Warne’s account that the offer had been made and rejected.

Warne retired from international cricket in 2007 with 708 wickets from 145 Test matches. He died on 4 March 2022 after suffering a heart attack while on holiday on the Thai island of Koh Samui.

Warne remains one of the greatest leg-spinners in cricket history. But the 1994 Karachi Test is remembered not only for its extraordinary one-wicket finish, but also for the alleged attempt to influence its result—and Warne’s refusal to accept the offer.