LONDON: Pakistani High Commissioner in London Wajid Shamsul Hassan has strongly criticized ICC following its ruling of suspension of Pakistani cricket trio: Salman Butt, Mohammed Aamer and Mohammed Asif, alleged cricketer of spot-fixing allegations, Geo News reported Friday.

In his statement, he said ICC Chief Haroon Logart has betrayed Pakistani High Commission (PHC), by telling a lie.

He said: ?Logart visited PHC at 5:30pm and stayed there for an hour.? ?In the meantime, he hinted at avoiding to unnecessarily pressurize Pakistani players besides assuring not to dismiss or suspend trio from playing International Cricket?, he noted.

Subsequently, he left PHC excusing that he had some personal work to do but he issued orders of suspension of three players after a little while, he maintained.

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LONDON: Cricket’’s world governing body charged three Pakistan stars accused in a betting scam with anti-corruption offences and provisionally suspended them Thursday, as the trio protested their innocence.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were barred from taking part in all cricket matches with immediate effect, although they can appeal the suspension.

Earlier, Pakistan’’s ambassador to Britain said after meeting the trio that they had asked to miss the rest of the team’’s tour of England because of the scandal, but said he believed their insistence that they were innocent.

The ICC said it had charged the three stars with offences under its anti-corruption code and they had been provisionally suspended pending a decision on those charges.

“We will not tolerate corruption in cricket - simple as that,” said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

“We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban.

“The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport’’s integrity. While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant.

“It is important, however, that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide.”

Earlier, Butt, Aamer and Asif met with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and Pakistan’’s ambassador to Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, at the diplomat’’s London office.

Speaking afterwards, Hasan said: “The three players have said that they are extremely disturbed by what has happened in the past week, especially in regard of their alleged involvement in the crime.

“They mentioned that they are entirely innocent in the whole episode and shall defend their innocence as such.

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LONDON: Three Pakistan cricketers at the centre of illegal betting allegations are innocent, Pakistan’’s ambassador to Britain said Thursday after meeting the players.

Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan told a scrum of media that Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif had declared their innocence and vowed to fight the allegations.

“The three players have said that they are extremely disturbed by what has happened in the past week, especially in regard of their alleged involvement in the crime,” Hasan told reporters.

“They mentioned that they are entirely innocent in the whole episode and shall defend their innocence as such.”

Hasan said the trio had requested to be withdrawn from Pakistan’’s remaining fixtures on their tour of England due to the “mental torture” they had suffered since the scandal broke.

“They maintain that on account of the mental torture which has deeply affected them, they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches,” Hasan said. “Therefore, they have requested that the Pakistan Cricket Board not consider them for the remaining matches.”

Asked later if he believed the trio were innocent, Hasan replied: “Yes, I believe in their innocence.”

Butt, Aamer and Asif were all named in a News of the World report which alleged they were involved in a “spot-fixing” scam by bowling deliberate no-balls in last week’’s Test match with England in exchange for cash.

The revelations have shocked the cricket world and led to calls from figures within the game that the players involved should be banned for life.

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TAUNTON: The eyes of the cricket world are on Taunton today as the controversy dogged Pakistan team play Somerset in a 50-over friendly.

The Pakistanis were coached into the County Ground shortly before 8.30am amid tight security.

And spectators were queuing outside even earlier for the game, which starts at 10.45am.

Pakistan will be without Test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer who are being interviewed by their country’’s cricket board.

They were named by the News of the World in an expose of alleged betting scam involving bowling no balls to order in a Test match against England.

Somerset are also resting a number of senior players.

Pak team captain Shahid Afridi who came back said winning this match is vital for Pakistan, as the win will boost the morale of the team for upcoming one-day series and Twenty20 matches.

The Pak players had a prolonged practice session for the match.

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TAUNTON: Tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been dropped by the Pakistan Cricket Board from the limited-overs leg of the England tour, according to team manager Yawar Saeed.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said that new replacement players will be called in for the series.

The players accused of spot-fixing during the Lord’’s Test missed a practice game against Somerset in Taunton to meet with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) officials and senior diplomats.

Captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif have been implicated in the scandal following a sting operation by British tabloid ”News of The World”.

Pakistan lost the four-Test series against England 1-3 last week at Lord’’s where the finale was overshadowed by the ‘’spot-fixing” scandal.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, the three Pakistan players who are at the centre of the spot-fixing controversy have been dropped; however, they had not, been suspended.

The three players are currently in London, where they are due to meet Pakistan’’s high commissioner to the UK. The PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt, is expected to be at that meeting.

Speaking in Taunton, where the Pakistan team are to play a warm-up match later on Thursday, Saeed said he had taken the decision, and also called for three replacements.

“The T20 squad will remain what it is here this morning, i.e. 13 people,” Saeed said.

“When we play the one-day internationals we will be asking for replacements to make the squad up to 16.”

The decision comes after several rounds of meetings between Ijaz Butt, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat and officials of the ECB, at which the PCB is believed to have been advised that the players should not take part in the rest of the tour.

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LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board said Tuesday it would not suspend top players accused over a betting scam while the claims are probed, but reports suggest they will not play the rest of the tour in England.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has promised “prompt and decisive action” if the allegations made by a British Sunday newspaper are proven, insisting that corruption would not be tolerated.
Pakistani authorities have also promised severe punishment but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Tuesday it would not suspend any players while police investigated the players.
“Chairman Ijaz Butt just told me that since there is a case going on with the Scotland Yard we are not going to suspend any player,” a PCB spokesman said.
“He further said that this is only an allegation so far. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken.”
According to British media reports, the players named in the News of the World allegations — captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal — are unlikely to play in the series of one-day internationals against England.
The Pakistan team begin their preparation for the one-day series, which follows the Test series in which the alleged betting scam took place, with a practice match against English county Somerset on Thursday.
The first one-day match against England is on Sunday.
The News of the World, a British Sunday tabloid, alleged that a middleman took 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to arrange for Pakistani players to deliberately bowl the no-balls.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper said it understood that the ICC had asked the Pakistan authorities for the four players cited in the allegations to be dropped from the squad, although no official request has been made.
Other British press reports said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was adamant that the players at the centre of the allegations should be omitted from the one-day series.
Citing an ICC source, it also reported that the same players had been under investigation for months by their anti-corruption unit.

More: continued here

LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board said Tuesday it would not suspend top players accused over a betting scam while the claims are probed, but reports suggest they will not play the rest of the tour in England.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has promised “prompt and decisive action” if the allegations made by a British Sunday newspaper are proven, insisting that corruption would not be tolerated.
Pakistani authorities have also promised severe punishment but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Tuesday it would not suspend any players while police investigated the players.
“Chairman Ijaz Butt just told me that since there is a case going on with the Scotland Yard we are not going to suspend any player,” a PCB spokesman said.
“He further said that this is only an allegation so far. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken.”
According to British media reports, the players named in the News of the World allegations — captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal — are unlikely to play in the series of one-day internationals against England.
The Pakistan team begin their preparation for the one-day series, which follows the Test series in which the alleged betting scam took place, with a practice match against English county Somerset on Thursday.
The first one-day match against England is on Sunday.
The News of the World, a British Sunday tabloid, alleged that a middleman took 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to arrange for Pakistani players to deliberately bowl the no-balls.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper said it understood that the ICC had asked the Pakistan authorities for the four players cited in the allegations to be dropped from the squad, although no official request has been made.
Other British press reports said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was adamant that the players at the centre of the allegations should be omitted from the one-day series.
Citing an ICC source, it also reported that the same players had been under investigation for months by their anti-corruption unit.

More: continued here

LONDON: Facing the match-fixing allegations, three Pakistani players, Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamir met PCB officials including Chairman Ijaz Butt on Thursday, Geo News reported.

However, players? scheduled meeting with Pakistani High Commission in London Wajid Shamsul Hassan was delayed for a day due to anonymous reasons.

Now, this meeting will be held on Friday, featuring presence of PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, PCB sources said.

It was decided during the meeting with PCB officials that three players will join ODI squad in Taunton on Friday.

Shocking news for Pakistani fast bowler Mohammed Aamir appeared that a garment manufacturing company has called off ad agreement with bowler owing to spot-fixing charges.

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LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board said Tuesday it would not suspend top players accused over a betting scam while the claims are probed, but reports suggest they will not play the rest of the tour in England.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has promised “prompt and decisive action” if the allegations made by a British Sunday newspaper are proven, insisting that corruption would not be tolerated.
Pakistani authorities have also promised severe punishment but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Tuesday it would not suspend any players while police investigated the players.
“Chairman Ijaz Butt just told me that since there is a case going on with the Scotland Yard we are not going to suspend any player,” a PCB spokesman said.
“He further said that this is only an allegation so far. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken.”
According to British media reports, the players named in the News of the World allegations — captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal — are unlikely to play in the series of one-day internationals against England.
The Pakistan team begin their preparation for the one-day series, which follows the Test series in which the alleged betting scam took place, with a practice match against English county Somerset on Thursday.
The first one-day match against England is on Sunday.
The News of the World, a British Sunday tabloid, alleged that a middleman took 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to arrange for Pakistani players to deliberately bowl the no-balls.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper said it understood that the ICC had asked the Pakistan authorities for the four players cited in the allegations to be dropped from the squad, although no official request has been made.
Other British press reports said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was adamant that the players at the centre of the allegations should be omitted from the one-day series.
Citing an ICC source, it also reported that the same players had been under investigation for months by their anti-corruption unit.

More: continued here

LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board said Tuesday it would not suspend top players accused over a betting scam while the claims are probed, but reports suggest they will not play the rest of the tour in England.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has promised “prompt and decisive action” if the allegations made by a British Sunday newspaper are proven, insisting that corruption would not be tolerated.
Pakistani authorities have also promised severe punishment but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Tuesday it would not suspend any players while police investigated the players.
“Chairman Ijaz Butt just told me that since there is a case going on with the Scotland Yard we are not going to suspend any player,” a PCB spokesman said.
“He further said that this is only an allegation so far. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken.”
According to British media reports, the players named in the News of the World allegations — captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal — are unlikely to play in the series of one-day internationals against England.
The Pakistan team begin their preparation for the one-day series, which follows the Test series in which the alleged betting scam took place, with a practice match against English county Somerset on Thursday.
The first one-day match against England is on Sunday.
The News of the World, a British Sunday tabloid, alleged that a middleman took 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to arrange for Pakistani players to deliberately bowl the no-balls.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper said it understood that the ICC had asked the Pakistan authorities for the four players cited in the allegations to be dropped from the squad, although no official request has been made.
Other British press reports said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was adamant that the players at the centre of the allegations should be omitted from the one-day series.
Citing an ICC source, it also reported that the same players had been under investigation for months by their anti-corruption unit.

More: continued here