Pakistan trio found guilty of corruption charges

Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt

The International Cricket Council has banned three Pakistan Test cricketers at the conclusion of the anti-corruption tribunal in Doha.

Salman Butt was given a 10-year ban, five years of which are suspended. Mohammad Asif was banned for seven years, two of which are suspended, while Mohammad Amir has been banned for five years.

The bans relate to allegations that the three players – in a deal organised by player agent Mazhar Majeed - accepted money from a third party to arrange for the players to bowl no-balls at predetermined points during Pakistan's fourth Test against England at Lord's during August 2010.

The ICC released a statement from Michael Beloff QC, the chairman of the independent tribunal which heard the case. The tribunal dismissed a charge under Article 2.1.1 of the ICC's anti-corruption code that Butt had deliberately batted out a maiden over.

However they found the charge, under Article 2.4.2 of the code, that the former Pakistan captain had failed to disclose information to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit about an approach by Majeed to bat out a maiden over, proved.

Charges against Asif and Amir under Article 2.1.1 of the code were proved.

The statement from Beloff said: “The independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal which has been hearing the cases of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif under the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel had adjourned on Tuesday 11th January 2011 after a six-day hearing.

“The Tribunal reconvened today for further submissions and thereafter announced the following decisions.

“The Tribunal found that the charge under Article 2.1.1 of the Code that Mr Butt agreed to bat out a maiden over in the Oval Test match played between Pakistan and England from 18 to 21 August 2010 was dismissed, whereas the charge under Article 2.4.2 that Mr Butt failed to disclose to the ICC's ACSU the approach by Mr Majeed that Mr Butt should bat a maiden over in the Oval Test was proved.

“The Tribunal found that the charges under Article 2.1.1 of the Code that [respectively] Mr Asif agreed to bowl and did bowl a deliberate no ball in the Lord's Test match played between Pakistan and England from 26 to 29 August 2010, Mr Amir agreed to bowl and did bowl two deliberate no balls in the same Test, and Mr Butt was party to the bowling of those deliberate no balls, were proved.

“We impose the following sanctions:

“On Mr Butt a sanction of ten years ineligibility, five years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of Anti-Corruption education.

“On Mr Asif a sanction of seven years ineligibility two years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of Anti-Corruption education.

“On Mr Amir sanction of five years of ineligibility.

“No further sanctions are imposed on any player and no orders are made as to costs.”

The bans come just 24 hours after all three players, along with Majeed, were charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat by the Crown Prosecution Service in Britain.

The four men have been summonsed to appear for a first hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 17th. Extradition orders will be sought against Butt, Amir and Asif if they fail to voluntarily return to Britain to answer the charges.

Paul Wheeler

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