http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haroon-Lorgat-c61719 satisfied with ICC tribunal’s verdict on spot-fixing case
The Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council Haroon Lorgat has stated that he and his body are happy with the proceedings and the verdict announced by the tribunal on the spot fixing case against Salman Butt, Mohammad
Amir and Mohammad Asif.
The trio has been banned from taking part in any cricket and cricket related activity, sanctioned by the body and its member boards, after the tribunal found enough evidence to nail them in the scandal that rocked the world of cricket
in August last year.
Butt faces a ban of 5 years and a suspended sentence of 5, Asif has been banned for 5 years and faces an additional suspension of 2 years while Aamir has been banned for 5 years straight after the three were found to have spot-fixed
the Lord's test against England.
Lorgat addressed a press conference in Doha; the venue where the hearing and the subsequent verdict was announced by the tribunal headed by Michael Beloff QC, the head of the ICC code of conduct commission.
He stated that the ICC had absolutely zero tolerance towards corruption and their stance had been vindicated by the verdict from the tribunal.
"I am satisfied that the proceedings are now over and we respect the findings of the independent tribunal. The members of this tribunal are extremely experienced and have considered the matter at great length after hearing detailed
submissions from all parties," Lorgat said. "From the moment we became aware of the allegations of spot-fixing made by the
News Of The World newspaper in August 2010, the ICC has left no stone unturned in pursuing this matter and we are therefore pleased with the outcome."
Lorgat added that in his opinion it was almost impossible for Salman Butt and Asif to return to international cricket as by the time their bans finish they would be in their thirties, which would mean that they would need at least
one year in domestic cricket in Pakistan or around the world to have any chance of returning to the national team.
He also hinted that the ICC wanted even stricter punishments against the players as the game had suffered big time due to the controversy, with the image of the game also taking a serious beating.
"While I am deeply saddened that this case happened in the first place, I acknowledge and commend the decision to deliver lengthy bans to all three players."
Meanwhile, the response from Lorgat has been received with mixed emotions by the cricketing fraternity in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 and the passionate fans of the game in the cricket mad country.
For the troubled state of Pakistan cricket remains one rare means of unity and the public takes pride in the performances of the cricketers who are treated like celebrities often getting mobbed whenever they make a public appearance.
As such, the fans were in for a real shock and felt betrayed by the acts of the trio at the same time a certain group of fans, which is in no way small in number, feel that the three players were taken for a ride and that they might
be innocent.
At the same time the average fan is hoping for a turnaround in the cricketing fortunes of the country in the World Cup that starts later this month, Pakistan has been a world champion before and it seems that there is no better time
for yet another win.
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