Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir out of TwePakistan team
THE International Cricket Council have charged and suspended Pakistan trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir with “various offences” under their anti-corruption code.
The trio, who insisted they had themselves pulled out of Pakistan’s Twenty20 and ODI games with England to clear their names, have been provisionally suspended, according to the ICC, until they make a decision on the charges.
Charges have been brought under Article 2 of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code relating to alleged irregular behaviour during, and in relation to, the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s last month.
The under-fire trio have been at the eye of a spot-fixing storm since claims in the News of The World on Sunday and withdrew from the Twenty20 and one-day series against England which is due to begin on Sunday.
A statement on the ICC website read: The three players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, have been officially notified of the offences they are alleged to have committed and have been provisionally suspended pending a decision on those charges.
“In accordance with the provisions of the code, this means they are immediately barred from participating in all cricket and related activities until the case has been concluded.
“The players have a right to contest this provisional suspension and a further opportunity to defend these charges at a full hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal in accordance with Article 5 of the code. The players have 14 days from their receipt of the charge sheet to indicate their desire for a hearing.”
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat added: “We will not tolerate corruption in cricket – simple as that. We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban.
“The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport’s integrity. While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant.
“It is important, however, that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide.”
