Butt, Amir and Asif to contest charges

[KingKhanWC]

The three Pakistan cricketers suspended over spot-fixing allegations will contest the International Cricket Council (ICC) charges against them. The Pakistan Cricket Board said Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif had written to the ICC "indicating their intention to defend themselves". The trio also face a police probe, with Wahab Riaz becoming the fourth player interviewed under caution on Tuesday. The ICC, meanwhile, has announced a review of its anti-corruption measures. Butt, Amir and Asif were last month caught by a News of the World sting which alleged they accepted money to deliberately bowl no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord's. They were provisionally suspended and charged by the ICC, and were also questioned by Scotland Yard detectives over the allegations. Police allowed the trio to leave Pakistan's current tour of England and return home, on the proviso they would return if required. A PCB statement, released through its London lawyers, added that the ICC had granted the trio additional time to "respond fully to the charges."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8997600.stm

It is confirmed the 3 will go not guilty all the way. Extra time given to them by the ICC to respond fully.

[Saj]

One of their arguments is also what a few of us wrote on PP, that the ICC suspension could in fact prejudice the police investigation.

[KingKhanWC]

Originally Posted by Saj One of their arguments is also what a few of us wrote on PP, that the ICC suspension could in fact prejudice the police investigation.

Saj, do you think they will contest the suspension then?

If ICC agree and back down, the PCB will bring them back for the next series. The cricketing world outside Pakistan will not like that.

[sanakazmi]

Additional time from today onwards?

[farsiddiqui]

Another legal loophole to the rescue. Not one has come forward and refuted the charges or claimed innocence. Everything revolve arounds having proof and evidence. Kinda like OJ Simpson case.

If they had a grain of integrity, they will retire themselves or the PCB should stop selecting them as an unwritten rule (no bans or suspensions, as they are as worthless as ) But that would mean PCB having any integrity, so never mind...

Oh well, I guess they will be back before the world cup then.

[saqlain]

They should have refuted the charges while in UK. Now they are back home and after talked to their attorneys this news came out. They are innocent until proven guilty. However, everything is pointing towards the fact that something is not right or they could be involved in something like match-fixing or spot-fixing. If I am innocent then I will tell everyone in crystal and clear terms. I am not sure what legality or diplomacy has to do with all this.

[Maula Jutt]

Atta boys!

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Originally Posted by KingKhanWC Saj, do you think they will contest the suspension then? If ICC agree and back down, the PCB will bring them back for the next series. The cricketing world outside Pakistan will not like that.

Maybe the cricketing world outside Pakistan should show that it is serious in cracking down on match-fixing outside of Pakistan as well? At the moment the argument for banning these three players seems to be based on circumstantial evidence rather than concrete. In that case why can't the ICC use circumstantial evidence to ban other shady characters within the game including those outside Pakistan?

[farazaidi]

Originally Posted by KingKhanWC Saj, do you think they will contest the suspension then? If ICC agree and back down, the PCB will bring them back for the next series. The cricketing world outside Pakistan will not like that.

Do you want them to stay suspended just because it is the popular choice?

[godzilla]

Originally Posted by farsiddiqui Another legal loophole to the rescue. Not one has come forward and refuted the charges or claimed innocence. Everything revolve arounds having proof and evidence. Kinda like OJ Simpson case. If they had a grain of integrity, they will retire themselves or the PCB should stop selecting them as an unwritten rule (no bans or suspensions, as they are as worthless as ) But that would mean PCB having any integrity, so never mind... Oh well, I guess they will be back before the world cup then.

i agree, the best way out of this would be that the players themselves say that they will not play until their names are cleared. if they are proved innocent, theyll have a lot more acceptance in the intl community. no point in playing them, creating more hate and distrust amongst the international community for a couple of match fees.

[farazaidi]

Ever since this story came out, people have been sounding as if this is the first time they are hearing about match/spot fixing and this IS THE ultimate moment to clean/save the game. So much so that they are already suspended from playing because ICC claims "we have solid proof against them" (only circumstantial evidence, nothing concrete). Why no charges then? Even in disciplinary issues, when players appeal against the ban, they are allowed to play until they are proved guilty against new tribunal.

They have set a new precedent here and their consistency with this rule will come under scanner very soon.

[KingKhanWC]

Originally Posted by farazaidi Do you want them to stay suspended just because it is the popular choice?

No. I don't think they should be suspended for a long time just because the ICC is taking so long to bring this to a closure. If this goes on for another 6 months and they can't prove their guilt, these players will miss the World Cup which is a major tournament for them and the team.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by farazaidi Do you want them to stay suspended just because it is the popular choice?

I think most people want them to stay suspended because there is overwhelming evidence that they were involved in spot fixing.

[insaftak]

Originally Posted by Fish I think most people want them to stay suspended because there is overwhelming evidence that they were involved in spot fixing.

lets wait and see what ICC does with that overwhelming evidence.

[Johnny Blaze]

Illuminating and thought provoking article from Ceasefire Magazine on why players shouldn't, and probably won't, be prosecuted: http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/2010/...be-prosecuted/

[aqeelPK]

Originally Posted by cpt. Rishwat maybe the cricketing world outside pakistan should show that it is serious in cracking down on match-fixing outside of pakistan as well? At the moment the argument for banning these three players seems to be based on circumstantial evidence rather than concrete. In that case why can't the icc use circumstantial evidence to ban other shady characters within the game including those outside pakistan?

+1000

[Johnny Blaze]

@ AqeelPK exactly, what about the Essex players found guilty of match fixing this year or the 29 IPL suspects.
http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/2010/...be-prosecuted/