John
02-05-2011, 05:20 PM
Three cricketers who are facing criminal trial over cheat allegations arrived today at a hearing of international cricket's governing body to decide their future in the game.
Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt are appearing before a three-man International Cricket Council (ICC) panel in Doha, which has the power to ban them from cricket for life.
The three players have strenuously denied all the claims.
Butt, the former Pakistan test captain, arrived first, followed by Asif in a dark suit. The 18-year-old Amir, in blue striped jumper and jeans, went in last to the hearing in the Qatar capital.
It is understood the judging panel, chaired by Michael Beloff QC, has arrived at its verdicts and sanctions following a six-day hearing last month.
They met in Doha on February 4 at the Qatar Financial Centre ahead of the latest hearing at the same venue.
Lawyers for the players have been given the opportunity to review the details and make last-minute representations before any public announcement.
It has been claimed that the suspended players and their representatives tried to get the latest hearing adjourned to avoid it influencing criminal proceedings, but the ICC maintain the two investigations remain distinct and different.
"Our view is that it goes ahead," an ICC source told Sky News.
Asif's lawyers said in a statement on Friday that their client was "sad and disappointed" at the outcome of the Metropolitan Police investigation, adding they hoped the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announcement "will not prejudice the International Cricket Council's own decision".
Further statements are expected on behalf of Asif and Butt.
The players were suspended last September after the News of the World alleged the three were involved in spot-fixing - bowling no-balls to order for betting syndicates - in the Fourth Test against England at Lord's.
On Friday the CPS in London announced that Amir, Asif and Butt, along with agent Mazhar Majeed, will face criminal charges of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
The accused are due to appear for the first time before a court on March 17.
Source - Yahoo.
Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt are appearing before a three-man International Cricket Council (ICC) panel in Doha, which has the power to ban them from cricket for life.
The three players have strenuously denied all the claims.
Butt, the former Pakistan test captain, arrived first, followed by Asif in a dark suit. The 18-year-old Amir, in blue striped jumper and jeans, went in last to the hearing in the Qatar capital.
It is understood the judging panel, chaired by Michael Beloff QC, has arrived at its verdicts and sanctions following a six-day hearing last month.
They met in Doha on February 4 at the Qatar Financial Centre ahead of the latest hearing at the same venue.
Lawyers for the players have been given the opportunity to review the details and make last-minute representations before any public announcement.
It has been claimed that the suspended players and their representatives tried to get the latest hearing adjourned to avoid it influencing criminal proceedings, but the ICC maintain the two investigations remain distinct and different.
"Our view is that it goes ahead," an ICC source told Sky News.
Asif's lawyers said in a statement on Friday that their client was "sad and disappointed" at the outcome of the Metropolitan Police investigation, adding they hoped the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announcement "will not prejudice the International Cricket Council's own decision".
Further statements are expected on behalf of Asif and Butt.
The players were suspended last September after the News of the World alleged the three were involved in spot-fixing - bowling no-balls to order for betting syndicates - in the Fourth Test against England at Lord's.
On Friday the CPS in London announced that Amir, Asif and Butt, along with agent Mazhar Majeed, will face criminal charges of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
The accused are due to appear for the first time before a court on March 17.
Source - Yahoo.