Salman Butt wants hearing deferred

Butt says he asked for his hearing to be put off till next month so he can deal with criminal proceedings in London.

KARACHI: Salman Butt said Tuesday he asked an anti-corruption tribunal to put off a hearing next month so he can deal with any possible criminal proceedings in London.

The former captain, along with pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, face an ICC tribunal in Doha from January 6-11, which will decide whether the suspension turns into a ban or they are absolved of the charges.

"I have requested the hearing to be put off so that I can settle the possible case in London and the ICC tribunal will hold a teleconference on Wednesday to take a decision on my request," Butt told AFP.

The trio face a potential criminal case from Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, which received two reports from Scotland Yard police who raided the Pakistani team's hotel in London.

Butt said British-based lawyer Yasin Patel will fight his case in Doha and other lawyers helped him send a reply to the ICC.

"Patel will be my lawyer but we want to settle the Crown Prosecution case first, if it is initiated, and then fight the ICC charges," said Salman.

Amir and Asif do not intend to seek to delay the ICC case.

"We want to attend the Doha hearing," Amir’s lawyer Shahid Karim told AFP.

"Maybe Salman’s lawyer needs time to prepare for the case but we want to attend the January hearing."

Butt last week reiterated his innocence.

"I have not done anything such as this (spot-fixing) in all my life or cricketing career," Butt told Sky television. "I hope I will be cleared and will play for my country again."