http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s spot-fixing tainted trio, Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Asif, to feature in World Cup if cleared
Pakistan’s spot-fixing tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif
finally heard good news when the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 announced that the players would feature in next month’s Cricket World Cup if they get cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Butt, who was visiting the site of an under-construction cricket ground in Larkana, said, “The squad is to be announced on January 19 but if any of these players gets a clean chit on February 5 he can be considered for late inclusion
in the World Cup squad."
“We have spoken to the ICC about this and they have in principle agreed to consider any late replacements in the final squad," he added.
Rumours are that the PCB is poised to include Mohammad Amir in the World Cup squad in case he gets acquitted from all charges. The strength of Pakistan cricket team has greatly been depleted because of the suspension of the players
due to the spot-fixing fiasco and the PCB is desperate to include at least their rising pace sensation Amir in the World Cup. 18-year-old Amir is expected to be shown leniency owing to his young age and previously a spot-fixing free career.
The PCB chairman, however, clarified that the final decision to include anyone in the team would be taken after consultation with the selection committee. He said, “They have to eventually decide because it is a fact these three
have not played any cricket at all since September so that has to be taken into consideration.”
Currently the players are awaiting the ICC Anti-Corruption tribunal’s verdict on the spot-fixing trial, which convened from the 6th to 11th of this month in Doha, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Qatar-c2986.
The tribunal is expected to give its verdict on the 5th of February. Initially, it was assumed that the tribunal would give its judgement on the 11th right after the closing statements by the lawyers of the
players, but on the request of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-c89347 Karim, who is the lawyer of pacer Mohammad Amir, the tribunal deferred the announcement of the verdict till next month.
The players were suspended from international/domestic cricket after a British tabloid
News of the World leaked information that suggested the involvement of the players in spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England last August. According to the tabloid, the pacers Amir and Asif bowled deliberate no-balls after taking money from a
bookmaker named http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mazhar-c75448 Majeed in the Lord’s Test against England.
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