Tainted Pakistan cricket trio respond to ICC notices

ISLAMABAD - Three Pakistan cricketers, currently under investigation for alleged involvement in spot-fixing scandal, have submitted their appeal against the suspension to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

All three players — captain Salman Butt and pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer — had been suspended by the ICC pending an inquiry into the allegations against them. They were given 14 days to appeal against the suspensions.

The trio called on Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt in Lahore Tuesday evening and discussed the latest situation after the scandal, a top source told IANS.

The players had responded to the ICC notices in their individual capacities and PCB had nothing to do with it, the source added.

The players were named in a sting operation carried by British tabloid “News of the World” in which an alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed is seen receiving money on behalf of Pakistani players to bowl no-balls as per his predictions during the fourth Test against England.

The players were withdrawn from the touring squad and were also questioned by the Scotland Yard in London for an exhaustive nine hours. However, they were allowed to go without framing any charges against them and the trio returned to Pakistan on Friday last.

PCB legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi said “the players have responded to the notices issued by ICC.”

“I don’t have any more details,” he added.

The PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt has earlier ruled out any action against these players before completion of the Scotland Yard probe.

A fourth player of the squad, fast bowler Wahab Riaz, is due to face the inquiry commission of Scotland Yard later Tuesday evening in England. Salman Butt and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal have also been served notices separately for concerns over validity of the match against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup.

(Awais Saleem can be contacted at ians.pakistan@gmail.com)