Hearing date remains unchanged

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected former captain Salman Butt’s appeal to postpone the hearing on the spot-fixing case following a teleconference that was attended by lawyers of all the three suspended players including Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.

The ICC tribunal chief Michael Beloff, who will also lead the hearing of the players, decided not to change the schedule that was pencilled in for January 6 to 11 in Doha.

Salman, following the advice of his lawyers Shahid Saeed and Yasin Patel, asked the ICC to postpone the hearing until a report by the Scotland Yard which is investigating the matter since it broke out. Following the request, the ICC held a teleconference of the lawyers of the suspended trio.

Shahid Karim, who is representing Amir, confirmed that ICC rejected Salman’s appeal. “I’ve received an email in which we’ve been asked to appear on January 6,” Karim told The Express Tribune.

Amir, Asif opposed change in schedule

The ICC took the decision after lawyers of both Asif and Amir went against Salman’s idea of delaying the hearing. “We did not support the idea of delaying the hearing as we’re well prepared and want the matter to be resolved as soon as possible,” said Karim.

“My client [Amir] is confident of clearing himself from all the charges and we opposed the idea on his desire.”

Amir, in a recent interview, expressed confidence over getting cleared and said he wanted the hearing on schedule.

Meanwhile, an official close to Asif’s case said his client was also against the idea of postponing the hearing and wanted it on schedule.

“We clearly refused to support Salman’s request because we have worked hard and want the hearing on time,” said the official.

Asif’s case is being spearheaded by Allan Alexander Cameron, brother of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Separate hearing request also rejected

According to another official, the idea of holding separate hearings also came under discussion.

“Salman’s lawyer also asked to hold a separate hearing but the ICC wants to hold a joint one for all the three players,” said the official.

The trio was provisionally suspended by the ICC in September after a British tabloid the News of The World claimed that the three players were involved in spot-fixing during the last Test against England in Lord’s.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2010.