Pakistani trio in a fix until 5th February
The fate of three top Pakistani cricketers, who were accused of wrongdoing during a test match against England last year, continues to hang in balance until the International Cricket Council hammers out its verdict on February 5.
The ICC, after having thoroughly probed the matter, would make it public whether or not the trio, which consists of left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, seamer Mohammad Asif and left-hand batsman Salman Butt, had really done what was being projected by international media. The penalties, if imposed, could involve bans ranging from five years to life.
The controversy stirred severe public anger back home when the players were shown in television footages manoeuvring certain moves during the contest in August, last year. All three players have since been barred from cricket.
However, all three insist they did not deliberately concede no balls in the final at Lord’s, quoting the oft-repeated phrase that cricket is a `by chance game’. They pleaded innocence and asserted they had been wrongly implicated in the quagmire.
They are hoping the decision would come out in their favour, feeling comfortable with the evidences they had put before the panel. Pinning high hopes on joining the national squad once again, the trio appears poised to put up even greater performances that should eclipse the recent nasty episode.
The three-member tribunal of ICC featuring Michal Beloff QC, Justice Albie Sachs and Sharad Rao could not reach the final verdict after six days of hearing held at Doha, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Qatar-c2986. The decision has been deferred with the jury arguing it needed more time before announcing it.
Furthermore, both, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 were summoned.
An ICC statement said, since day one the tribunal had been taking cognizance of the importance of proceedings to the players and cricket as well. It is now believed that the ICC sprang into action to check foul play in the third Test after ‘News of the World’ quoted Majeed claiming he would have his say at The Oval.
Bowlers Amir and Asif have given conflicting accounts of the bookie’s exact assertions on their overstepping incident. The former, who notched up 6 for 84 and was awarded Man of the match in the hosts’ innings victory, did not justify his clearing of the popping crease. All he said was that he did not know as to why he did so.
On the other hand, experienced Mohammad Asif, 28, attributed his bowling a no ball to an abrupt instruction by the skipper, Butt, for delivering a faster delivery. He said this had diverted his attention and he could not concentrate on the crease.
Earlier, News of the World, in its report, accused the Pakistan players of bowling deliberate no balls on the instructions of a person named, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mazhar-c75448 Majeed.
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