ICC promises leniency for suspended trio

ICC will allow the three cricketers freedom to resume their careers if no evidence is found against them.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has entered into a constructive deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC) which will allow the three suspended cricketers freedom to resume their international careers if no evidence is found against them shortly, according to details received by The Express Tribune.

The PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt confirmed that the Pakistan board and the ICC have agreed to halt the war of words relating to spot-fixing allegations following reconciliation between the two parties. Butt earlier termed the ICC’s investigation into the allegations as “terrible” and also called for the removal of ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

“The ICC has promised to show leniency and has shown willingness to close this matter soon which forms part of the reconciliation between the two parties,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “Scotland Yard has failed to gather any evidence against our players despite weeks of investigation and the ICC, in the meeting with the PCB chairman, assured him that they will not stretch the matter unnecessarily.”

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were provisionally suspended by the ICC earlier this month after the News of The World placed spot-fixing allegations on them during Lord’s Test. The three players were questioned by Scotland Yard but were allowed to travel back to Pakistan after assuring their availability if needed.

“The ICC has given the punishment without getting any proof which is concerning them [the ICC] now as well. Due to this, they have changed their stance towards the players. It now seems likely that the players will be cleared and allowed to resume their careers.”

The three players have already sent their replies to the governing body through their UK-based lawyer Elizabeth Robertson in which they pleaded not guilty and asked the suspensions to be lifted. The ICC, according to its rules, will have to form a tribunal which will look into the replies.

“We have been told that the tribunal would be formed soon which, if something substantial can’t be found against them, will not extend the case.”

PCB consults lawyer after ECB’s notice

The PCB has also decided to involve Robertson in the ongoing tussle with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following the latest allegations against the Pakistan team after the third One-Day International (ODI) at The Oval.

Following the chairman’s remarks linking the England players with match-fixing, the ECB sent a letter to the PCB demanding an apology from the chairman with a legal case to follow if that was not to happen.

A PCB official confirmed to The Express Tribune that the board had received the letter from the ECB.

“We have received a letter from the ECB and will reply to it shortly, probably in a day or two,” said the official. “Butt had a conversation with Robertson to discuss the repercussions of the PCB’s possible steps on the issue.”

The PCB official, however, said that the chairman was reluctant to apologise for his comments.

“Butt is likely to maintain his stance as to why the Pakistan players were accused of fixing without any evidence and may not send an apology for his comments.”

Butt claimed he was informed by gamblers that English players took bribes for throwing the third ODI at The Oval which Pakistan won after making a comeback.

The chairman’s remarks came after a newspaper report claimed that the “scoring
partern” of the match was pre-determined and the ICC was informed of this beforehand.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2010.