ICC decision delayed 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 wants 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 presided over six days of evidence since Thursday, but it has been decided that there is not enough time to reach a considered verdict.

The tribunal has throughout been very conscious of the importance of these proceedings to three players and to the wider world of cricket

ICC statement

"The tribunal has throughout been very conscious of the importance of these proceedings to three players and to the wider world of cricket," read a statement for the ICC.

"Representations have been made to the tribunal to reserve any decision on the remaining charges until it has had sufficient time to give the issue the most careful consideration and until it is able, at the same time as handing down its decision, to provide written reasons.

"This was not feasible within the timetable agreed for this hearing in Doha."

The most serious charges being considered would attract bans ranging from five years to life.
Mohammad Amir
Amir took six wickets on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in July 2009

All three players have pleaded not guilty to deliberately producing no balls in the final match of a four-Test series against England at Lord's.

An investigation by the News of the World newspaper alleged that the deliveries were bowled at specific points in England's innings after a payment was made to businessman Mazhar Majeed.

Information on when no balls would occur in an innings could be exploited by gamblers betting on specialist markets offered by some bookmakers.

Bowlers Amir and Asif have given differing explanations for Majeed's accuracy in predicting when they would overstep.

Eighteen-year-old Amir, who finished with figures of 6-84 and the man of the match award in England's innings victory, said he did not know why he had cleared the popping crease with his front front.

DAVID BOND'S BLOG
while the ICC will be extremely disappointed not to have been handed the guilty verdicts, their lawyers will be more than happy to wait another few weeks

While Asif, 28, told the panel that he had made a mistake after being instructed by captain Butt to bowl a faster delivery.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and one-day captain Shahid Afridi were both summoned to give evidence on the case.

It has also emerged that the ICC has looked into the possibility of wrongdoing at the third Test after Majeed claimed to the News of the World that he could affect events on the field at The Oval.

Majeed's predictions for that match - unlike at Lord's - failed to materialise and all charges relating to that Test, except one relating to Butt, have been withdrawn.
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