Match Fixing: ICC may suspend 4 Pak players

Agencies

London/Mumbai, 31 August 2010: Top officials of ICC and PCB are understood to be considering suspending four Pakistan players including captain Salman Butt from the rest of the England tour in the wake of the match fixing scandal, a media report said on Monday.

 

The move came even as ICC President Sharad Pawar said the world’s cricket governing body will take "ruthless actions" if any player is found guilty in the scandal in the Lord’s Test match.

 

The officials of the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board are understood to be considering short-term measures against the accused Pakistan players and this includes suspending Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Kamran Akmal and captain Salman Butt from the rest of their tour of England, Daily Mail reported on its Mail Online service.

 

 

Pakistan are due to face England in two Twenty20 matches and then five NatWest Series matches over the next three weeks. ICC president Sharad Pawar has ruled out taking action until after the police investigation but later added "If, unfortunately, there is a truth (in the allegations), then ruthless actions will be taken," he told reporters in Mumbai.

 

"I am absolutely confident that both boards - English and Pakistani - will never encourage or protect anybody who has done a wrong thing," he added.

 

Eng-Pak ODI series will go on: ICC

 

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Sharad Pawar said on Monday that Pakistan will complete its England tour and the T20 and ODI series will go ahead as scheduled.  "It is the desire of the ICC, England and Pakistan that the game is continued," Pawar said after a teleconference with top ICC officials, PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt and ECB chairman Giles Clarke.

 

Pakistan and England square off in two Twenty20 Internationals (September 5 and 7) before playing five ODIs from September 10-22. Speaking to the media on the issue of spot-fixing in the Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan, which allegedly involved Pakistani cricketers accepting money from a bookie named Mazhar Majeed, Pawar said the ICC is waiting for the investigations to get over.

 

"Until and unless the process-related stories of investigation are over, it is improper for me to react," Pawar told reporters here.
"ICC is waiting for the British police to complete investigation. ACSU is also looking into the details. It is also preparing a report in 2-3 days. The report by British Police and ACSU will give us a proper picture. This information we hope will lead us to take appropriate action if required," he added.

 

 

"If this is established, there will be quite a serious view that will be taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the England Cricket Board and the ICC," Pawar said. "I had a detailed discussion with Giles Clarke, Ejaz Butt, ICC vice-president Alan Issac, CEO Haroon Lorgat, anti-corruption wing in-charge Ravi Sawani and a few officials of ICC. We discussed in depth the Pakistani players’ issue."

 

Pawar said PCB chief Butt will submit a confidential report to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari regarding the ’spot-fixing’ allegations. "As per our information, PCB president is preparing a confidential report which will be submitted to the President and Prime Minster. He wants guidance from the country’s leadership," said Pawar.

 

Asked to comment on the Majeed’s claims of being in touch with an Indian bookie, Pawar said he had no clue about that. "I don’t know. The BCCI have to take a view on that. The BCCI is one of our member and I am sure if any serious matter is there, the BCCI will take cognizance of this. I can’t come to a conclusion based on a video," he said.