Butt wants ICC hearing ‘put off’ to allow him to deal with possible criminal proceedings

KARACHI - Suspended Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt has said that he has asked the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption tribunal to put off next month’s hearing so that he can deal with any possible criminal proceedings in London.

“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 tele-conference on Wednesday to take a decision on my request,” the Daily Times quoted Butt, as saying.

Along with pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, the 26-year-old was provisionally suspended by the ICC on charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan’s Lord’s Test against England in August.

The tainted trio face an ICC tribunal in Doha from January 6-11, which will decide whether their suspensions turn into bans or they are absolved of the charges.

They also face a potential criminal case from Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service, which received two reports from Scotland Yard that raided the Pakistani team’s hotel in London.

Butt said that Britain-based lawyer Yasin Patel would fight his case in Doha, and that 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 Butt.

It is noteworthy that while Butt wants the hearing schedule to be postponed, Aamir and Asif do not intend to seek any delay in the ICC case. (ANI)