Suspended Butt, Amir accuse ICC of ‘conspiracy to defame Pakistan cricket’

LAHORE - Suspended Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir have accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of having an anti-Pakistan agenda after their suspensions for alleged ’spot-fixing’ were upheld.

The ICC’s code of conduct commission, headed by Michael Beloff, upheld the suspensions of Butt, Amir and teammate Mohammad Asif on Sunday after a two-day hearing in Dubai.

The trio was suspended in September after a British tabloid alleged that they were involved in ’spot-fixing’ the Lord’s Test against England in August.

“They heard us, but it was as if ’say whatever you want to say, we have come with a decision’. Their decision was not based on a single piece of evidence against us. We requested from them the next date of the hearing, but they didn’t give us,” the Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

Amir insisted that the ICC had made up its mind even before the hearing in Dubai.

“To me it appeared as if this is a conspiracy to defame Pakistan cricket. I am hurt and sad because we want the truth to come out,” Amir said.

“I am disappointed because they didn’t even tell us the reason for rejecting our appeals. It appeared to be as if the decision of the hearing had been made beforehand,” he added.

Butt and Amir had hoped that the lifting of their suspensions would allow them to take part in the ongoing ODI and Test series against South Africa.

The innocence or guilt of the players will now be judged at an independent tribunal, the date of which has yet to be set. (ANI)