Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer have been handed lengthy bans by the ICC’s anti-corruption tribunal for so-called ‘spot-fixing’ – deliberately bowling no-balls – in a Test match against England last year. Butt was banned for 10 years, with five years suspended, while Asif and Aamer were handed bans of seven years each with two and five years suspended, respectively. “We are satisfied at the tribunal's decision, which was taken on solid evidence, and we hope with this decision that the image of the game will improve,” Lorgat told a press conference in Doha. “I don't believe the sentences are lenient by any stretch of the imagination. I think they are balanced with an expert and experienced jury dealing with the case.” In a separate development on Friday, British prosecutors charged the three players as well as agent Mazhar Majeed, the alleged mastermind behind the scheme, with corruption offences and summoned them to appear at a London court on March 17. “Corruption in our game will never be tolerated and, once again, I reiterate our zero-tolerance approach,” said Lorgat. “I hope this investigation, and the verdicts delivered, makes that message crystal-clear. We now would hope that the reputation, after having been initially tarnished, is now safeguarded.”
International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat is confident the heavy sanctions handed out to three Pakistan players found guilty of corruption will help to protect the image of the sport.
