Trio off to learn their fate

Suspended trio, their lawyers departed for Doha this morning to contest their case before ICC over allegations.

LAHORE: The suspended Pakistani trio and their lawyers departed for Doha this morning to contest their case before the International Cricket Council (ICC) over spot-fixing allegations.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi and the News of The World reporter Mazhar Mehmood will be ‘key witnesses’ for the three-man tribunal hearing the appeal from January 6 to 11.

The three players - former Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir - have pleaded not guilty and remain hopeful of getting their names cleared during the six-day hearing in Doha. England-based Yasin Patel will be Salman’s Butt’s lawyer while Amir will be accompanied by Shahid Kalim whereas British lawyer Barrister Cameron will advocate Asif’s case during the six-day hearing.

Afridi ‘spoke the truth’

While speaking to reporters at the National Cricket Academy, Afridi said he had not lied to the ICC and had given a full account of what he had witnessed during the team’s tour of England.

“I have already said what I had to say and what I observed during the tour,” said Afridi. “I could not have lied because the ICC already had enough evidence related to the case. I might not be able to appear before the tribunal in person as my wife is not well but I will be available for the teleconference.”

Younis is expected to participate by telephone as well as he is on tour with the Pakistan team in New Zealand.

ICC’s Code of Conduct Commissioner Michael Beloff will chair the tribunal with the two other Code of Conduct Commissioners, Justice Albie Sachs from South Africa and Sharad Rao from Kenya, completing the tribunal.

How it all happened

While Pakistan enjoyed indifferent form on the field, the tour of England last summer was marred by spot-fixing allegations during the final Test against the hosts at Lord’s.

The British tabloid claimed that the two fast-bowlers overstepped on purpose with the captain involved in the scam as well, aided by the alleged bookmaker Mazhar Majeed who acted as an agent for several players.

The Scotland Yard then raided the Pakistani team hotel and reportedly confiscated money from the players’ rooms and later interrogated them as well.

Following PCB’s refusal to omit the players from the limited-overs squad, the ICC took matters in their own hands and provisionally suspended the trio, a punishment that was made permanent at a later date until the final hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2011.