ICC tribunal nails spot-fixing trio with heavy bans
A day after being told that they were being charged for spot-fixing related offence and bribery, the tainted Pakistani trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif have been slapped by bans of 10 years, 5 years and 7 years
respectively. This effectively means the end of the careers of Asif and Butt, with a glimmer of hope for Aamir of returning to the cricket field at the age of 24.
A three member ICC tribunal headed by Michael Beloff QC, Sharad Rao and Justice Albie Sachs handed out the punishment in a press conference, bringing an end to an arduous wait for the cricket fans, administrators and the players alike,
who were left wondering about every possible move that could have taken place ever since the damning scandal broke out during the fourth Pakistan-England test match at Lords, last August.
Following is the verdict announced by Beloff,
'On Mr Butt a sanction of ten years ineligibility, five years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme
of Anti-Corruption education.
'On Mr Asif a sanction of seven years ineligibility two years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme
of Anti-Corruption education.
'On Mr Amir sanction of five years of ineligibility.
'No further sanctions are imposed on any player and no orders are made as to costs.
'The Tribunal has recommended to the ICC certain changes to the Code with a view to providing flexibility in relation to minimum sentences in exceptional circumstances.
'The Tribunal note that it is for the ICC, whether and if so when, the fully reasoned decision in respect of the breaches of the Code and of the sanctions imposed in consequence should be published.
'It is our strong and unanimous view that it is in the interests of all concerned in the world of cricket that publication should take place as soon as possible.'
The cricketing world was shocked when the scandal first broke out during the fourth test match, the two bowlers; Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, were accused of deliberately bowling no-balls during the first and second day’s play
where Pakistan bowled after winning the toss, while Salman Butt was accused of negotiating their deals with Mazhar Majeed; the players' agent.
A sting operation by English tabloid The News of the World revealed that the three players were part of a deal that was made by Mazhar Majeed on the eve of the match.
The deal worth 150,000 pounds included directives for the players to bowl the three no-balls during a specific period of play, Mazhar Majeed stated in a video, recorded by the team that conducted the sting operation, that Asif and
Amir would bowl a total of three no-balls and the illegal balls would be delivered by them on the specific deliveries of the over, as stated in the video.
The no-balls were bowled as per the plan and once the act took place, the sting operation team informed the Scotland yard that immediately raided the hotel rooms of the three players and found the marked currency notes in Salman Butt’s
room.
The trio was subsequently suspended by the ICC after the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to give in to the demands of the governing body of the game to sideline the players during the investigation.
The players underwent a six day long hearing from 6th to 11th of January in Doha, and were told about their fate during a culminating hearing that took place at the Doha Financial Centre.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Amir has decided to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sports based in Switzerland.
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