Spot-fixing case: ICC gives briefing on procedure of hearing
The International Cricket Council gave a briefing to the media on the procedure of the spot-fixing trial that would begin on Thursday, 6 January 2011.
The week-long hearing will conclude on 11 January.
Pakistan’s three players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif would be pleading their innocence against the charges of spot-fixing that have been levelled on them by the ICC during Pakistan’s tour to England in August 2010.
Michael Beloff QC, who would be heading ICC’s independent tribunal in this case at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Qatar-c2986 Financial Centre Civil and Commercial Court, gave the briefing.
Beloff mentioned the revelations made public by British tabloid “News of the World” against the three players in which they were accused of bowling deliberate no-balls by taking bribes from a bookmaker, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mazhar-c75448 Majeed.
Beloff also gave brief profiles of the other two members of the tribunal, the South African Justice Albie Sachs and Sharad Rao from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752.
It was told that the hearing will be conducted behind closed doors and the media would not be allowed to cover the trial proceedings from inside. Only ICC lawyers Jonathan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 and Ian Higgins, the players and their lawyers and witnesses would be taking
part in the closed sessions of the trial.
Beloff explained that the trial will formally begin with an opening statement from the ICC which will put forward its case against the trio. After that, the players would be entitled to respond to the accusations levelled against them by the ICC lawyers.
Then the ICC will present all the evidence that it has gathered against the players.
Beloff said, “Thereafter, the ICC will present all of the evidence that it has prepared in support of the charges it has brought. That will take various forms and will include hearing from witnesses 'in person' and over the telephone.”
After this, the players will present their defence which would be cross-examined by the ICC lawyers followed by the closing statements.
According to reports, the witnesses include coach Waqar Younis, captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 and former team security manager Khawaja Najam. All three will take part in the trial via teleconference.
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