KARACHI: Pakistan’s suspended former captain Salman Butt said Tuesday he asked an anti-corruption tribunal to put off a hearing next month so he can deal with any possible criminal proceedings in London. The 26-year-old, along with pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, was provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan’s Lord’s Test against England in August.
The trio face an ICC tribunal in Doha from January 6-11, which will decide whether the suspension turns into a ban or they are absolved of the charges. “I have requested the hearing to be put off so that I can settle the possible case in London and the ICC tribunal will hold a tele-conference on Wednesday to take a decision on my request,” Salman told AFP. The trio face a potential criminal case from Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service, which received two reports from Scotland Yard police who raided the Pakistani team’s hotel in London.
British newspaper the News of the World claimed several Pakistani players took money to obey orders from an alleged book-maker Mazhar Majeed at Lord’s.
Salman said British-based lawyer Yasin Patel will fight his case in Doha and other lawyers helped him send a reply to the ICC. “Patel will be my lawyer but we want to settle the Crown Prosecution case first, if it is initiated, and then fight the ICC charges,” said Salman. Aamer and Asif do not intend to seek to delay the ICC case. “We want to attend the Doha hearing,” Aamer’s lawyer Shahid Karim told AFP. “Maybe Salman’s lawyer needs time to prepare for the case but we want to attend the January hearing.”
Salman last week reiterated his innocence. “I have not done anything such as this (spot-fixing) in all my life or cricketing career,” Salman told Sky television. “I hope I will be cleared and will play for my country again.”
