Karachi, Sep 27 (IANS) Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt Monday ruled out allowing the tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir to compete in the domestic season that will resume from next week.
Butt said the three players have been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) which is why the PCB cannot even allow them to feature in domestic events, including the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy – the country’s premier first-class tournament.
Earlier, there have been media reports suggesting that the PCB will permit the three players to feature in domestic events because the Board insists that the trio are innocent until proved guilty.
Salman, Asif and Amir were provisionally suspended by the ICC early this month after being accused of accepting bribes from match-fixers.
News of the World, a British tabloid, alleged that Asif and Amir deliberately bowled no-balls on the orders of match-fixers during Pakistan’s fourth Test against England at Lord’s.
Butt said that the PCB is still waiting for the Scotland Yard to complete its investigations into the spot-fixing allegations against the players. He promised that the PCB will hand the players exemplary punishment if they are found guilty.
