Long bans for Pakistan cricketers 07/02/2011
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Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been handed long bans after charges under the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption code were proved.
Former Pakistan captain Butt has been banned for 10 years, five of which are suspended.
Michael Beloff QC, who chaired the three-man anti-corruption tribunal in Doha, found the charge that Butt had failed to disclose an approach from player agent Mazhar Majeed to bat out a maiden over in the third Test against England at The Oval in August as proved, although a charge that he agreed to bat out a maiden over was dismissed.
Asif was banned for seven years, two of which were suspended, while Amir will serve a five-year ban.
Charges under Article 2.1.1 of the ICC's anti-corruption code against Asif and Amir that they had agreed to and did bowl one no-ball and two no-balls respectively in the Lord's Test against England last year were proved, as was the fact that Butt was party to the bowling of those no-balls as captain.
Beloff said in a statement released by the ICC: "The tribunal found that the charge under Article 2.1.1 of the code that Mr Butt agreed to bat out a maiden over in the Oval Test match played between Pakistan and England from August 18 to 21, 2010 was dismissed, whereas the charge under Article 2.4.2 that Mr Butt failed to disclose to the ICC's ACSU [Anti-Corruption and Security Unit] the approach by Mr Majeed that Mr Butt should bat a maiden over in the Oval Test was proved.
"The tribunal found that the charges under Article 2.1.1 of the code that [respectively] Mr Asif agreed to bowl and did bowl a deliberate no ball in the Lord's Test match played between Pakistan and England from August 26 to 29, 2010, Mr Amir agreed to bowl and did bowl two deliberate no balls in the same Test, and Mr Butt was party to the bowling of those deliberate no balls, were proved.
"We impose the following sanctions:
"On Mr Butt a sanction of 10 years ineligibility, five years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of anti-corruption education.
On Mr Asif a sanction of seven years ineligibility two years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of anti-corruption education.
"On Mr Amir sanction of five years of ineligibility."
The ICC bans come a day after the trio were told they would have to appear in a British court charged with cheating bookmakers.
Butt, Asif and Amir who were questioned by Scotland Yard detectives over the alleged match-fixing scandal last August will be charged with conspiring to cheat bookmakers, along with Majeed, the Crown Prosecution Service said at the end of last week.
The three players can appeal to the Court of Arbitration against the ICC bans.
Amir's lawyer Shahid Karim indicated to reporters outside the tribunal that he intended to appeal against the player's ban.
Butt's legal counsel Yasin Patel said his client disagreed with the verdict imposed on him.
Patel said in a statement: "I make the following statement in relation to the decision that has been announced this evening.
"Mr Butt disagrees with the decision of the tribunal. He also disagrees with the length of the suspension, which is five years. The tribunal's hands were tied by the ICC Code to a five-year minimum. Mr Butt is encouraged by the fact that the tribunal advised the ICC to change the code or to revise the minimum term.
"In light of the proceedings now instituted by the Crown Prosecution Service in England, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.
"Mr Butt would like to express his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all his family, friends, supporters and the cricketing fraternity who have stood by him through all of this.
"Neither Mr Butt nor I will be taking any questions or giving any further comment on the matter for the time being."
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