‘I would see that they are prosecuted properly in a court’
HC said cricketers facing spot-fixing accusations should be banned for life and prosecuted if the charges are proven.
Three Pakistan cricketers facing spot-fixing accusations should be banned for life and prosecuted if the charges against them are proven, said the country’s top diplomat in London.
Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif have been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following last week’s allegations in the News of the World newspaper.
Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan’s high commissioner to Britain, has been one of the trio’s most vocal supporters.
On Friday, he accused the ICC of trying to “play to the public gallery” with the suspension, adding they had “no business” to impose it.
But in a new interview with BBC radio, he said the three players would face a “most draconian penalty” if they were found guilty of spot-fixing, while insisting they were innocent until proven otherwise.
“It’s the responsibility of the ICC to take any appropriate action and only they have the authority to ban them for life,” said Hasan.
“But if the evidence that the News of the World is supposed to have is proven correct and is admissible in a court of law, I would banish them from cricket.
“If they are found guilty, they must be punished properly, not only banned for life but I would see that they are prosecuted properly in a court of law.”
The News of the World, which has since claimed a fourth, unnamed player is also being investigated, alleged the trio had been involved in the deliberate bowling of no-balls, normally a random event, during last week’s fourth Test against England at Lord’s.
Hameed to face disciplinary action
A Pakistan Cricket Board official said that it was reviewing the video released by News of the World in which Yasir Hameed is seen discussing the spot-fixing controversy with an undercover reporter. In the video, Hameed has claimed that he was approached by bookmakers during the Champions Trophy in 2004, an offer he rejected straightaway.
“We are assessing the video but before that we cannot give any verdict. One thing is for sure that Hameed did speak to someone despite the restrictions for which he would face action,” said the official.
He added that Hameed, who also met high commissioner Hasan, is also likely to face action from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the opening batsman did not inform the body about an approach by a bookmaker.
“ICC will first take action on the batsman if the claims are true because it is a breach of the Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct (ACCC).”
According to article 2.4.2 of the ACCC, the player is bound to inform the ICC about any such approaches.
The PCB official said following the new revelation, the team management has been directed to keep all the players away from strangers and keep a vigilant eye on them to avoid such controversies on remaining tour.
With Additional input from AFP
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2010.
Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif have been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following last week’s allegations in the News of the World newspaper.
Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan’s high commissioner to Britain, has been one of the trio’s most vocal supporters.
On Friday, he accused the ICC of trying to “play to the public gallery” with the suspension, adding they had “no business” to impose it.
But in a new interview with BBC radio, he said the three players would face a “most draconian penalty” if they were found guilty of spot-fixing, while insisting they were innocent until proven otherwise.
“It’s the responsibility of the ICC to take any appropriate action and only they have the authority to ban them for life,” said Hasan.
“But if the evidence that the News of the World is supposed to have is proven correct and is admissible in a court of law, I would banish them from cricket.
“If they are found guilty, they must be punished properly, not only banned for life but I would see that they are prosecuted properly in a court of law.”
The News of the World, which has since claimed a fourth, unnamed player is also being investigated, alleged the trio had been involved in the deliberate bowling of no-balls, normally a random event, during last week’s fourth Test against England at Lord’s.
Hameed to face disciplinary action
A Pakistan Cricket Board official said that it was reviewing the video released by News of the World in which Yasir Hameed is seen discussing the spot-fixing controversy with an undercover reporter. In the video, Hameed has claimed that he was approached by bookmakers during the Champions Trophy in 2004, an offer he rejected straightaway.
“We are assessing the video but before that we cannot give any verdict. One thing is for sure that Hameed did speak to someone despite the restrictions for which he would face action,” said the official.
He added that Hameed, who also met high commissioner Hasan, is also likely to face action from the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the opening batsman did not inform the body about an approach by a bookmaker.
“ICC will first take action on the batsman if the claims are true because it is a breach of the Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct (ACCC).”
According to article 2.4.2 of the ACCC, the player is bound to inform the ICC about any such approaches.
The PCB official said following the new revelation, the team management has been directed to keep all the players away from strangers and keep a vigilant eye on them to avoid such controversies on remaining tour.
With Additional input from AFP
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2010.