Trio braced for ICC bombshell decision today

Verdict for Salman, Asif and Amir to be announced in Doha.

DOHA: Despite suffering a blow after British prosecutors charged Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir with corruption offences, the former Pakistan Test captain dismisses claims that he will receive a life ban for his role in cricket’s alleged spot-fixing scandal. Salman and pace bowlers Asif and Amir are all accused of conspiring in the bowling of deliberate no-balls on last year’s tour of England – claims they all deny.

Reports have claimed that  Salman and Asif could be banned for life while Amir may be handed a five-year suspension by the anti-corruption tribunal which will announce its decision today. The decision is expected to tilt against the trio after the British Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) charges. “I don’t believe in what the media is saying,” said Salman, reacting to British media reports that he and Asif will be banned for life and Amir for five years.

“My lawyer [Yasin Patel] terms the case as 50-50, so at the moment I don’t want to say much. Cricket has been my livelihood, so I want that to carry on and I hope every Pakistani fan prays for me.”

Meanwhile, Amir’s lawyer Shahid Karim has hinted that he may argue that his age and clean disciplinary record to reduce the sanction if the fast-bowler was found to be guilty.

The players are allowed to appeal against the verdict and the punishment and can also challenge a decision based on procedural or jurisdictional reasons. “I would say we will take it one step at a time and come to that when and if needed,” Karim told ESPN cricinfo. “Appealing is an option and a right.”

The tribunal met over six days in January, reading written and hearing audio testimony as well as seeing video evidence. Despite almost 50 hours of deliberations, the three-man tribunal decided to delay a decision.

The tribunal had earlier learnt that they would be pre-empted by the CPS yesterday, who have charged the three cricketers with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, and conspiracy to cheat.  However, the CPS has confirmed that there is no connection between the timing of their announcement and the International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing in Doha.

The mood is already sombre in cricket-mad Pakistan ahead of the verdict. “I think these players are going to be lost to Pakistan cricket for some years, which is sad,”  said former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Tauqir Zia. “But if it is proven beyond doubt they were guilty of corruption in the sport, the tribunal must make an example of them for a better future of the sport.”

Former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail added: “When the PCB didn’t do anything the ICC acted and now I don’t think these players are going to be shown any leniency by the ICC.”

The timing and severity of the Doha decision will be crucial with the World Cup starting in two weeks’ time and with the ICC under pressure to clamp down illegal bookmakers. Salman, Asif and Amir were provisionally suspended by the ICC in September 2010, with the world governing body’s code of conduct carrying a minimum five-year ban if corruption charges are proved. The maximum punishment is life out of the game.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2011.