Aamer’s lawyer asks for independent tribunal for spot fixing case hearing
The spot fixing case against Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt is set to take a new twist as the lawyer of fast bowler Aamer has asked for an independent tribunal for the hearing set to take place in Doha next month.
On the other hand the lawyers of Salman Butt have asked the ICC for a postponement of the hearings to prepare their reply.
Shahid Karim the lawyer of Mohammad Aamer made the observation to a Pakistani website that an independent tribunal would have been ideal in determining the fate of the three players as the ICC has leveled the allegations against the players
hence there might be a bias in the tribunal’s judgment that has been appointed by the governing body of the game itself.
"Looking at the case from a legalistic point of view, from the point of view of the case being presented to an independent and unbiased tribunal, then I think he has a fair chance of coming out clean," Karim told
PakPassion.net. "However the situation is an odd one. Ideally we would have liked the tribunal to be completely independent of the ICC, but at this point in time I have to have full faith in the tribunal."
The ICC's three-man tribunal includes Michael Beloff QC, Justice Albie Sachs of South Africa and Sharad Rao of Kenya. Beloff is the head of ICC code of conduct commission and he had dismissed a preliminary hearing for the removal of suspension
filed by Mohammad Aamer and Salman Butt in October in Dubai.
Karim in particular raised objections about the participation of Beloff as he had already made a judgement on the merits of the case in October.
"We raised a slight objection to Michael Beloff QC chairing the hearing in Doha, as he had heard the case in the provisional hearing, but he chose not to remove himself," Karim said. "However, my training as a lawyer requires me to have
full faith in the forthcoming tribunal and I should expect a fair hearing.
"Although the members of the three-man tribunal are already part of the anti-corruption commission which is a permanent body in the code of the ICC and are nominated by the ICC”.
It remains to be seen if Karim files an official objection as the legal fraternity in Pakistan had already advised him to ask for an independent panel and told him that he should ask for an independent panel to judge the case after the
ICC became a party against the players.
On the other hand Salman is at loggerheads himself with the body and has made scathing remarks about their dealing of the case that came under the spotlight when the trio were accused of spot fixing courtesy a sting operation by British
tabloid; The News of the World.
The scandal hit the headlines around the world during the fourth and final Pakistan-England test match at the Lords; the trio was accused of spot fixing three no balls in England’s first innings.
The hosts were on the mat at that time and ironically Aamer claimed his career best figures during the innings ending with a haul of 6 wickets.
Pakistan completely tapered off in the rest of the match succumbing meekly to a crushing innings defeat after the hosts regained the initiative before mauling the tormented tourists.
Meanwhile Karim is hopeful that Aamer would be exonerated by the ICC as he is only 18 years of age and hence doesn’t deserve a life time ban or a suspension from the international game due to his tender age.
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