Pakistan Cricket News: Salman Butt appeals ICC’s suspension over spot-fixing controversy
Finally, Salman Butt broke the imperious silence and defended his position against the spot-fixing allegations. He has now appealed against the ICC’s decision of his provisional suspension, and most importantly the ICC has acknowledged
his appeal.
“Yesterday we received a request from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haroon-Lorgat-c61719 told the BBC on Wednesday. “As expeditiously as possible we will conduct a hearing to consider that appeal.”
Haroon Lorgat has promised that this spot-fixing investigation will not linger on for too long and the entire process is being accelerated so that in case the players are not proven guilty, the provisional ban could be immediately
lifted, and they could readily be available to play for their team.
"In fact Michael Beloff will consider it and we are in the process of sending it. We will try to be as expeditious and we will try to do it best as quickly as possible. The other two players have filed no appeals," Lorgat continued.
To just give a brief background, on August 29, 2010, Butt and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s two main bowlers, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were alleged to have been involved in spot-fixing or ‘fancy’ fixing where the bowlers, under the supervision
of the captain, were to bowl no-balls deliberately. This news was unearthed in a British tabloid, News of The World, by their investigative reporter Mazhar Mehmood. The reporter tactfully paid a bookie disguised as an agent, Mazhar Majeed, who was loosely
affiliated with several Pakistani players, a bribe in return for detailed information on when the no-balls would be deliberately bowled.
The ICC reacted instantaneously to these allegations and provisionally suspended the alleged trio during the tour of England.
The news of Salman Butt’s appeal came as a surprise to many avid followers of the spot-fixing scandal as there has been some damning evidence that seems to be going against the test-captain so far.
The first glaring piece of evidence is that at the time when those no-ball deliveries were bowled by Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, one of the television cameras caught the captain looking anxiously at the no-ball mark instead
of looking at either the batsman or the trajectory of the ball.
Secondly, when the police checked the hotel rooms of Salman Butt and the other two alleged players, they found bills with the same serial numbers as those the News of the World reporter, Mazhar Mehmood had paid http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mazhar-c75448 Majeed, the
bookie, earlier. Salman Butt can only hope and pray that his appeal will be heard.
The three alleged players served their notices on September 2nd after the ICC felt that they had "a case to answer" and the players were given two weeks to respond. On September 14, the players sent in replies within the said time-frame
but these were not formal appeals. They asked for extra time in filing their formal appeals. Their request was heard and granted by the ICC and the new deadline was October 2nd.
According to the information provided by website ‘cricinfo’, the provisional hearing will only focus on the matter of the suspensions of the player. However, the fact that whether or not they should remain until
a full hearing - that must be heard within three months of the provisional suspensions being imposed on the players.
Butt had requested a 15-day extension to file the appeal. The two other suspended Pakistan fast bowlers — Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir — are yet to appeal.
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