http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-c88163, Asif and Amir Filed Replies
The alleged Pakistani players have appealed for withdrawal of suspension from international cricket. The players have been provisionally suspended by the ICC. Players who were suspended include Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Mohammad
Amir. The three players have filed their replies with the governing body on Tuesday.
According to the legal advisor of PCB, the players have returned to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 and have filed their replies through their London based Lawyer. PCB has hired Elizabeth Robertson as the lawyer to fight for the players in England.
Tafazzul Rizvi, the PCB legal advisor said that the three Pakistani players replied in response to the charges levelled by ICC based on allegations of spot fixing. The players were given notices by the ICC to explain the reason for
allegations after ICC thought to have a valid reason for their involvement.
The issuance of notices by the ICC was an evidence of the serious nature of allegations and their validity in the eyes of cricket governing council. Had the allegations been baseless, ICC would not have dared to suspend the players.
ICC extended the notices to three players on second September and has given a period of three weeks for the players to respond.
The three Pakistani players are required to respond till the coming Thursday. Whereas the official replies have been handed over to ICC, however ICC is silent on the issue. ICC officials parried to questions on the replies of Pakistani
players and abstained to make any statement on the issue.
A source close to the investigation asserted that ICC would not jump to the conclusion in haste and investigation would be conducted meticulously. The investigation may take more time but before it is finalized, nothing could be said
according to the source.
The fates of the players remain hung in confusion while investigation is yet in the process. The suspension of players by ICC reveals that there may have been some solid proof against the players. However the case is yet in progress
and ICC should have waited for the final outcome.
The analysts and experts believe that the players have defended themselves in their reply. They have rejected all the allegations levelled against them. Hence the three players have decided not to plead guilty and fight for the survival.
Players have requested ICC to lift the provisional suspension till the finalization of investigation by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 Yard. Players fear of dual punishment with ICC carrying on the investigations separately from the Scotland Yard.
The alleged players and their advisors in the PCB wanted to earn more time. They wanted more evidence that could be a valid reason for any action against them. The concerns by the players and PCB appear genuine that two agencies are
simultaneously conducting the investigation and separate punishment by each may harm them more.
ICC should have waited for finalization of investigation by Scotland Yard before announcing the provisional suspension of players. However the ICC is in the process to formulate a tribunal where the appeal case of the players would
be heard. The tribunal comprises of three members. The members are selected from the code of conduct commission. Chairman generally becomes the member of the tribunal. At present Chairman Code of conduct position is held with Michael Beloff QC.
In case the players have not filed replies, ICC would have to wait for the final charge sheet. The charge sheet was required to be presented before the disciplinary committee. Disciplinary Committee is responsible to hand over the
final punishments based on the evidences.
The three alleged players were interrogated twice by the London Police. However they were allowed to return Pakistan on Friday. Scotland Yard however furnished an agreement with the players which bound them to appear before the Police
when required.
The provisional suspension of players from international cricket seems unjustified without finalization of the investigation. Had the players been guilty, they would not have been allowed to move back to Pakistan. The suspension is
only damaging the already tarnished image of players despite investigation in progress.
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