Spot-fixing case: ICC defers verdict on Pakistan trio
Sports
Spot-fixing case: ICC defers verdict on Pakistan trio
The International Cricket Council has deferred its decision on three Pakistan players accused of corruption until a separate hearing on 5 February. The ICC's anti-corruption panel want more time to consider verdicts on former skipper Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. The trio are suspended from cricket while spot-fixing claims in August's Test against England are investigated. The ICC's three-man tribunal will reconvene in the Qatari city of Doha. Michael Beloff QC, Justice Albie Sachs and Sharad Rao have heard six days of evidence since Thursday. The most serious charges they are considering would attract bans ranging from five years to life. The trio was all charged with various offences under Article 2 of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code. They all deny any wrong-doing, but have been provisionally suspended since the allegations came to light in the days following the Test. At the hearing, the players faced cross-examination as they sought to defend themselves on the charges. Asif was the last of the three to give evidence in his defence on Monday before closing arguments. The backbone of the evidence against the trio is a 54-page document detailing the News Of The World's investigation. In the NOTW document it is understood there are details of numerous phone calls and texts involving the players and investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood.
