http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Amir
ICC’s Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has said that he is confident that cricket’s governing body has established a strong case against the three suspended Pakistani players. Former Test captain Salman Butt, youngster Mohammad Amir
and the experienced Mohammad Asif were suspended by the ICC after spot-fixing allegations were levied on them back in August.
Lorgat has stated that the ICC has worked hard in establishing their case, after gathering and assessing all the available evidence. He said, “We've worked hard at collecting all the evidence that we would require to make the charges
stand.” The tribunal which will hear the case will be headed by Michael Beloff, head of ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission. Other members of the commission include Justice Albie Sachs of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 and Kenya's Sharad Rao.
Lorgat has stressed that if the players are found guilty, they will be severely punished. “We would want to be proportional but at the same time we do not want to show any leniency. These are severe issues and integrity of the
game is absolutely fundamental and we would not want to tolerate any of that in the sport.”
If the players are charged, however, they can try to overrule the decision in the Court for Arbitration of Sport. “My understanding is that any matter that we decide on in a disciplinary process is always open to contest in the
Court of Arbitration for Sport,” said Lorgat.
The allegation on the three players surfaced when British tabloid News of the World accused the three players of being involved in bowling intentional no-balls. The players have continued to reject the allegations
posed on them.
ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit immediately conducted an inquiry into the matter and soon after, handed a provisional suspension to the all three players. Amir and Butt appealed against the suspension on the grounds that such action
on mere allegations is unlawful (Mohammad Asif withdrew his appeal on the advice of his lawyer). Their appeal was dismissed last month in Dubai by the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission.
The trio’s future will be decided when they face the ICC’s tribunal from 9th
- 11th of January.
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