ICC Charges And Suspends Accused Pakistan Players

ICC Charges And Suspends Accused Pakistan Players

Mohammad Amir arrives at a meeting in London with PCB officials and the Pakistan High Commisioner

©REUTERS/Paul Hackett (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT CRICKET CRIME LAW IMAGES OF THE DAY) Picture Supplied by Action Images

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provisionally suspended Pakistan players Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt having charged them under Article 2 of its Anti-Corruption Code.

The three players are at the centre of allegations that no balls were bowled to order in the fourth Test against England at Lord's and have been withdrawn from the remainder of the tour.

The terms of the ICC's charge dictates that they are 'immediately barred from participation in all cricket and related activities until the case has been concluded'.

The players have the right to contest the charge and may take the opportunity to to defend the charges at a full hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal.

“We will not tolerate corruption in cricket – simple as that," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said.

"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."

The statement from the ICC added that the three players had been charged with 'various offences under Article 2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel relating to alleged irregular behavior' during the Lord's Test match.

"Any player ultimately found to be guilty of committing an offence under the code would be subject to the sanctions described in Article 6 of the code. In this case, the alleged offences, if proved, would involve the imposition of a ban. There is also a possibility, at the discretion of the independent tribunal, that a fine would be imposed in addition to a ban," the statement added.

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