Tainted Pak trio stumped

Doha, Feb 5: Ending months of uncertainty, the ICC today banned former Pakistan captain Salman Butt for 10 years and sanctioned seven and five years of ineligibility for pace duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer after finding the three cricketers guilty of spot-fixing.

In its verdict, the ICC imposed 10 years ban on Butt with five years of suspended sentence, Asif a seven-year sanction with two years suspended, while Aamer was banned for five years.

“The Tribunal found that the charges under Article 2.1.1 of the Code that (respectively) Asif agreed to bowl and did bowl a deliberate no ball in the Lord’s Test match played between Pakistan and England from 26 to 29 August 2010, Aamer agreed to bowl and did bowl two deliberate no balls in the same Test, and Butt was party to the bowling of those deliberate no balls, were proved”, the ICC said in a statement.

“We, therefore, impose the following sanctions: On Butt’s ten years ineligibility, five years of which are suspended on the condition that he doesn’t commit further breaches of the code, and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of anti-corruption education.

“On Asif, a sanction of seven years of ineligibility, two years of which are suspended on the condition that he commits no further breach of the code and also participates in an anti-corruption programme”, it said.

“On Aamer a sanction of five years ineligibility. No further sanctions are imposed on any player”, the statement added.