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LONDON: Cricket’s world governing body charged three Pakistan stars accused in a betting scam with anti-corruption offences and provisionally suspended them Thursday, as the trio protested their innocence.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were barred from taking part in all cricket matches with immediate effect, although they can appeal the suspension.

Earlier, Pakistan’s ambassador to Britain said after meeting the trio that they had asked to miss the rest of the team’s tour of England because of the scandal, but said he believed their insistence that they were innocent.

The ICC said it had charged the three stars with offences under its anti-corruption code and they had been provisionally suspended pending a decision on those charges.

“We will not tolerate corruption in cricket – simple as that,” said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

“We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban.

“The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport’s integrity. While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant.

“It is important, however, that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide.”

Earlier, Butt, Aamer and Asif met with Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and Pakistan’s ambassador to Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, at the diplomat’s London office.

Speaking afterwards, Hasan said: “The three players have said that they are extremely disturbed by what has happened in the past week, especially in regard of their alleged involvement in the crime.

“They mentioned that they are entirely innocent in the whole episode and shall defend their innocence as such.

“They maintain that on account of the mental torture which has deeply affected them, they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches.”

Asked later if he believed the trio were innocent, Hasan replied: “Yes, I believe in their innocence.”

Butt, Aamer and Asif were all named in a News of the World report which alleged they were involved in a “spot-fixing” scam by bowling deliberate no-balls in last week’s Test match with England in exchange for cash.

However Hasan later questioned the authenticity of video footage shot by the newspaper, saying the players may have been framed.

“The video wasn’t timed or dated. It could have been filmed before or after the match, or at a different time,” he told the BBC.

Asked specifically whether he believed the players may have been set up, he replied: “Yes, I would say that. Yes.”

The revelations have shocked the cricket world and led to calls from figures within the game that the players involved should be banned for life.

The trio were quizzed by police during the Lord’s Test and had their mobile phones confiscated. Sky News reported they would be questioned again Friday, but Scotland Yard refused to confirm this.

London-based businessman Mazhar Majeed was arrested on Sunday but released without charge on police bail.

Meanwhile Australian Test legend Shane Warne added his voice to the chorus of condemnation, saying authorities should choose the ultimate punishment if the three players were found guilty.

“If it is true and they have been found (guilty of) match-fixing and throwing games and spot-betting with the no-balls and stuff, if that’s the case they should be thrown out,” Warne told reporters. “It’s as simple as that.”

Former England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher also adopted a hard line, writing in The Guardian newspaper that life bans were the only way to send a clear message to players who compromised the integrity of the sport.

“We must be ruthless and put the fear of God into people. Even the smallest transgression must mean that a career is over,” he said.

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This post was submitted by Chinmaya Nayak.

Thanks to timesofindia.indiatimes.com