Players’ lawyers oppose early verdict
The lawyers have asked tribunal not to rush with announcement, come up with proper reasoning before giving verdict.
KARACHI:
The gruelling six-day hearing in the spot-fixing case, featuring three Pakistan players, will conclude today with closing statements by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) legal team and the players’ lawyers.
On the penultimate day of prosecution, fast-bowler Mohammad Asif completed his examination after questioning by the ICC’s lawyers and the independent tribunal.
Asif, according to an official close to the hearing, was mainly questioned on the no-ball that was allegedly delivered on the orders of Mazhar Majeed during the Lord’s Test. The fast-bowler maintained his innocence and told the tribunal that the delivery was not intentional and came as a result of attempting to generate increased pace after being asked by his captain Salman Butt.
The ICC’s lawyer Jonathan Taylor started the closing argument after the cross-examination with Asif before the end of the fifth day’s proceedings.
“The ICC’s legal team would start the final day of the hearing by summing up their case following which the players’ lawyers would give their closing statements that would bring the hearing to an end,” said the official.
Meanwhile, the tribunal chief Michael Beloff has invited members of the media this morning to brief them. Chances of Beloff announcing the verdict are slim but cannot be ruled out.
Tribunal urged to delay verdict
The official added that the lawyers of Salman (Yaseen Patel) and Mohammad Amir (Shahid Karim) pleaded to the tribunal to delay the verdict instead of passing it immediately after the hearing.
“The lawyers have asked the tribunal not to rush with the announcement and come up with proper reasoning before giving their verdict,” said the official.
Meanwhile, according to a British television channel, the ICC lawyers also handed phone records obtained during the investigation by the Scotland Yard to the tribunal, following objections regarding the timing of the scandal which broke after the no-balls were delivered.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2011.
The gruelling six-day hearing in the spot-fixing case, featuring three Pakistan players, will conclude today with closing statements by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) legal team and the players’ lawyers.
On the penultimate day of prosecution, fast-bowler Mohammad Asif completed his examination after questioning by the ICC’s lawyers and the independent tribunal.
Asif, according to an official close to the hearing, was mainly questioned on the no-ball that was allegedly delivered on the orders of Mazhar Majeed during the Lord’s Test. The fast-bowler maintained his innocence and told the tribunal that the delivery was not intentional and came as a result of attempting to generate increased pace after being asked by his captain Salman Butt.
The ICC’s lawyer Jonathan Taylor started the closing argument after the cross-examination with Asif before the end of the fifth day’s proceedings.
“The ICC’s legal team would start the final day of the hearing by summing up their case following which the players’ lawyers would give their closing statements that would bring the hearing to an end,” said the official.
Meanwhile, the tribunal chief Michael Beloff has invited members of the media this morning to brief them. Chances of Beloff announcing the verdict are slim but cannot be ruled out.
Tribunal urged to delay verdict
The official added that the lawyers of Salman (Yaseen Patel) and Mohammad Amir (Shahid Karim) pleaded to the tribunal to delay the verdict instead of passing it immediately after the hearing.
“The lawyers have asked the tribunal not to rush with the announcement and come up with proper reasoning before giving their verdict,” said the official.
Meanwhile, according to a British television channel, the ICC lawyers also handed phone records obtained during the investigation by the Scotland Yard to the tribunal, following objections regarding the timing of the scandal which broke after the no-balls were delivered.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2011.