Spot-fixing hearing: Lawyers of Amir and Asif satisfied over proceedings
The legal representatives of the Pakistan's suspended pace-duo Mohammed Amir and Mohammad Asif have shown their satisfaction over the six-day long hearing into spot-fixing allegations which was held in Doha from 6 to 11 January 2011.
International Cricket Council’s three-member independent tribunal, headed by British lawyer Michael Beloff, completed the hearing on Tuesday and deferred the final decision until 5 February 2011.
The main focus of the panel during the hearing were three no-balls delivered by Asif and Amir at various occasions – claimed to be pre-planned – during the fourth and final Test against England at Lord’s in August 2010. However, the Oval
Test between England and Pakistan during the same tour was also under scrutiny after a British newspaper alleged the game of being fixed on part of the tourists.
But the ICC anti-corruption tribunal cleared the suspended trio of any misconduct during the Oval Test but postponed its verdict on allegations for the Lord’s Test.
Both the lawyers were hopeful that a “fair and just” final verdict will be pronounced on 5 February. 28-year-old Mohammad Asif is being represented by Alexander Cameron, brother of British Prime Minister David Cameron, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 lawyer
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-c89347 Karim is fighting for the teenager Mohammad Amir.
Alexander Cameron expressed satisfaction upon execution of the hearing.
“The good thing is that Asif has been cleared of charges brought against him for the Oval Test against England,” said Cameron. “We are satisfied with the way things went at the hearing and my client is hopeful that on February 5 the tribunal
will deliver a verdict based on the principles of justice and fairness,” he added further.
Asif’s lawyer also elucidated that neither he nor his client had any kind of issues over the deferment of the final verdict from the three-member tribunal.
Amir’s lawyer however told the media reporters that the apex body had wanted the panel to pronounce a verdict on Tuesday but the members of the tribunal wanted more time to examine the evidences and statements given to them during the hearing.
“The ICC feels that it has given enough evidence to penalise the players but the tribunal has still not reached a unanimous decision,” claimed Karim who was also in favour of deferred verdict and had made a request as well to the panel in
this regard.
It is expected that the 18-year-old Pakistan pacer, Mohammad Amir might escape a severe punishment. However, Asif and Butt are expected to be treated quite harshly if proven guilty as both were quite senior players.
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