Disgraced former captain Salim Malik said he was honoured to be invited to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Pakistan's World Cup win and the golden jubilee of Test cricket in the country. "I am honoured and when you are included in the award list it means your services are recognised," said Malik, who is under a life ban for match fixing. "I take pride in playing for Pakistan for 18 years and I deserve an award," he told AFP.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced it would hold a victory dinner on March 30 in Lahore to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the 1992 World Cup win. Pakistan won the fifth World Cup under Imran Khan's captaincy in Australia in 1992 and Malik, now 37, was part of the team.

"I am grateful to PCB and its chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia for sending me an invitation and I will definitely attend the ceremony," Malik said.

Pakistan will also celebrate its golden jubilee of Test cricket this year and will honour all their former captains and 171 Test players. Pakistan played their first Test against India in 1952-53 and have also shown interest in playing a commemorative Test against India this October.

India, maintaining its cricket boycott of Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute, has ruled out the possibility until tensions between the two countries subside. They have massed around 800,000 troops on their common border since tension flared following the December attack on the Indian parliament which New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

Pakistan will also host New Zealand in April and May and Australia in October to celebrate their golden jubilee.

Malik played 283 one-day internationals and 103 Tests between 1981 and 1999. He also led Pakistan in 12 Tests and 34 limited-overs games.

Malik was banned for life in May 2000 after a match-fixing inquiry conducted by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum found enough evidence against him to recommend a life ban. The PCB implemented Qayyum's recommendations and barred Malik from all international and first-class cricket, and from holding any cricketing office.

His appeal against the life ban will be heard at Lahore High Court on April 30. "I hope to get my name cleared after this appeal and hope that justice will be done to me," he said.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd