Ruthless action if charges proved: Pawar

Pawar says charges are yet to be authenticated by Scotland Yard.

LAHORE: International Cricket Council (ICC) President Sharad Pawar, after his meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Cheif Ijaz Butt, while speaking to Indian media, said that both PCB and ICC agree that the sanctity of cricket must be preserved.

However he mentioned that ICC will take ruthless actions if spot-fixing is proved though the charges are yet to be authenticated by Scotland Yard.

He also said that the reports about Muhammad Amir turning into an informant were untrue.

Ijaz Butt said the the three players would remain suspended until a probe by British police was completed.

"The matter is under investigation. Until that investigation is completed, we cannot comment on it," he said. "The ICC has suspended the players. Unless the suspension is removed, they cannot play."

Updated from print edition (below)

Ijaz Butt reaches India to meet ICC president

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt travelled to New Delhi to meet the International Cricket Council (ICC) President Sharad Pawar in a bid to discuss the spot-fixing allegations surrounding the Pakistan cricket team.

During his hastily-arranged visit to India, he will be meeting Pawar to discuss various issues including the alleged spot-fixing scandal and the possible outcome of the ICC chief executive meeting held in Cape Town.

According to the PCB media department, the chairman’s visit was a surprise to them as well.

“We have no idea whether it’s a personal or an official visit,” a PCB spokesman told The Express Tribune. “But I can only confirm that the chairman flew to India this [Wednesday] morning.”

The Express Tribune understands that the PCB chairman is trying to regain the support for Pakistan’s stance on the spot-fixing issue while at the same time, he will try to convince the Indian board officials to resume the bilateral series between the two countries, possibly at neutral venues.

Exhibition matches in order to raise funds for the flood victims in Pakistan, apart from addressing the hosting of the World Cup 2011 issue, will also form part of the agenda when Ijaz meets his Indian counterpart.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2010.