Amir’s visa delay causes concerns
Banned trio faces criminal charges hearing on March 17.
LAHORE:
While Salman Butt left for London to appear in the criminal charges hearing, another banned Pakistan player Mohammad Amir is still awaiting a visa to join his former teammates. Amir, Salman and Mohammad Asif – banned for atleast five years due to spot-fixing charges – face another hearing before the Magistrate Court in London on March 17.
However, Amir delayed his plan of flying from Islamabad yesterday after facing a visa delay and is likely to leave for London today if the issue gets resolved. The Express Tribune has learnt that Amir’s lawyer has conveyed the issue to the authorities and requested for a new date as a matter of precaution. On the other hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which distanced itself from the proceedings, has sent its legal advisor Tafazul Rizvi as an observer at the hearing.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said that the players will not be detained and have just been summoned to attend the court hearing.
“It would not be necessary to detain the players in London,” CPS press officer told The Express Tribune. “Defendants, who are summoned, are not usually arrested or detained before their first court appearance. The police would only become involved if the players were in the country but did not attend the hearing.”
The three players face corruption charges surrounding only the Lord’s Test last year, according to the CPS.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2011.
While Salman Butt left for London to appear in the criminal charges hearing, another banned Pakistan player Mohammad Amir is still awaiting a visa to join his former teammates. Amir, Salman and Mohammad Asif – banned for atleast five years due to spot-fixing charges – face another hearing before the Magistrate Court in London on March 17.
However, Amir delayed his plan of flying from Islamabad yesterday after facing a visa delay and is likely to leave for London today if the issue gets resolved. The Express Tribune has learnt that Amir’s lawyer has conveyed the issue to the authorities and requested for a new date as a matter of precaution. On the other hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which distanced itself from the proceedings, has sent its legal advisor Tafazul Rizvi as an observer at the hearing.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said that the players will not be detained and have just been summoned to attend the court hearing.
“It would not be necessary to detain the players in London,” CPS press officer told The Express Tribune. “Defendants, who are summoned, are not usually arrested or detained before their first court appearance. The police would only become involved if the players were in the country but did not attend the hearing.”
The three players face corruption charges surrounding only the Lord’s Test last year, according to the CPS.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2011.