Pakistan trio face life bans if guilty of betting scam
The three players at the centre of the Pakistan spot-fixing allegations have been charged by the ICC under its Anti-Corruption Code.
The trio – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – face potential life bans from cricket if they are found guilty of the charges, and have all been provisionally suspended from cricket pending outcome of independent tribunal hearing into the charges.
The ICC has charged the players under its code in relation to what the ICC has termed “irregular behaviour during, and in relation to, the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's last month.”
The two pacemen and Test captain Butt have been implicated in an alleged spot-fixing scam (centring around three no-balls bowled at allegedly pre-determined points in the Test at Lord’s) reported in the News of the World this weekend.
"We will not tolerate corruption in cricket - simple as that. We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban,” ICC Chief Executive http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haroon-Lorgat-c61719 said.
While the players have been suspended pending a tribunal hearing (time and place yet to be confirmed) the ICC has stressed that: “It is important, however, that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide.”
The players themselves had already withdrawn themselves from the remainder of Pakistan’s tour of England, including two Twenty20 Internationals and an ODI series, and in a statement given to the media by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990, yesterday protested their innocence.
“The three players have said they are extremely disturbed by what has happened, especially with regard to the alleged involvement in the crime,” the Pakistan high commissioner said at about midday yesterday. “They have mentioned that they are entirely innocent and will defend themselves as such.”
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