Unnamed Pakistani left off list due to spot-fixing scandal

LONDON: The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack has named only four Cricketers of the Year in its 2011 edition.

The revered publication has ritually recognized the five players who had the greatest impact on the English summer, only breaking with convention to recognize outstanding individuals WG Grace, Plum Warner and Jack Hobbs and during the first and second world wars when competitive cricket was on hiatus.

The traditional five-man list has been named every year since Hobbs’ nomination in 1926 but has been reduced in the 2011 edition after one of the selected players was caught up in last year’s spot-fixing scandal.

Following a News of the World investigation during the England versus Pakistan series, the International Cricket Council charged bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir with bowling deliberate no-balls and Captain Salman Butt with being party to events.

Asif is currently serving a seven-year ban, with two suspended, Amir a straight five years and Butt 10 years, with half suspended after being found guilty by an independent tribunal.

“If (the player in question) were exonerated, then it would be possible to reconsider the position,” said Wisden editor Scyld Berry.

“That’s why I didn’t pick anyone else instead. But as things stand, we don’t feel we can choose him. It’s all very sad.”
The news somewhat overshadows those nominees who will appear in the book, with Tamim Iqbal, Eoin Morgan, Chris Read and Jonathan Trott all receiving the accolade.

Bangladeshi Tamim and Irishman Morgan are the first players from their respective countries to make the Wisden list and Read are recognized for his role in leading Nottinghamshire to the LV County Championship title.

Trott, meanwhile, was an expected pick after a prolific year in Test and one-day cricket for England in his first full year as an international.

Alastair Cook missed out on selection as his Ashes heroics fell outside of Wisden’s parameters, but he has been honored by appearing on the cover of almanack, pictured celebrating his century in the Sydney Test. AGENCIES

Spot-fixing case: ICC upholds verdict 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 want 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 heard six days of evidence since Thursday.

The most serious charges they are considering would attract bans ranging from five years to life.

The trio was all charged with various offences under Article 2 of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code. They all deny any wrong-doing, but have been provisionally suspended since the allegations came to light in the days following the Test. At the hearing, the players faced cross-examination as they sought to defend themselves on the charges. Asif was the last of the three to give evidence in his defence on Monday before closing arguments.

The backbone of the evidence against the trio is a 54-page document detailing the News Of The World’s investigation. In the NOTW document it is understood there are details of numerous phone calls and texts involving the players and investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood.

Pakistan cricket ‘spot-fixing’ trio face tribunal

DOHA: A make-or-break anti-corruption tribunal against Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer opens in Doha Thursday, with the players facing lengthy bans if found guilty.

The hearing will be held behind closed doors at the Qatar Financial Centre from 0630 GMT and is scheduled to run until January 11, although lawyers have indicated a verdict may come earlier.

The three face charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England last year in a scandal that rocked the sport. It is alleged that they conspired in the bowling of deliberate no-balls — claims they all deny.

They were provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in September, with the world governing body’s code of conduct carrying a minimum five-year ban if corruption charges are proved.

ICC corruption hearing overshadows NZ v Pakistan test series

HAMILTON: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq says his team are focused on the upcoming test series against New Zealand and will not be distracted by an anti-corruption hearing that could mete out life bans to three suspended players.

The International Cricket Council will open a hearing in Doha against former test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir later on Thursday, less than 24 hours before the first of a two-test series at Seddon Park.

“We are just focused on cricket. We have nothing to do with what’s happening (in Doha),” he told reporters on Thursday. “Everyone who is here is focused on what’s happening here and to do well here.”

In addition to the spot-fixing claims levelled against three players during their series in England last year, Pakistan have been dogged by other controversies over the

Spot-fixing charges: Butt says hotel cash was his own

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has said thousands of pounds of cash discovered during police searches of his hotel room during spot-fixing inquiries was all part of his legitimate tour allowances.

Butt and pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Aamer were all provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following allegations resulting from a ‘sting’ operation conducted by Britain’s News of the World newspaper that they’d all conspired in the bowling of deliberate no-balls as part of a betting scam during the fourth Test against England at Lord’s in August.

There were subsequent newspaper accusations that police had discovered 15,000 pounds in marked notes in Butt’s hotel room. Well I think everybody knows the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) pays us daily allowances on tours and it was a long tour. About 11 000 pounds of that money was from our daily allowances and being the captain I had an extra entertainment allowance which amounts to about 4 500 pounds from the tour, which I had with me, Butt maintained. Butt’s case, and that of Asif and Aamer, will be heard by a three-man panel chaired by English lawyer Michael Beloff, who heads the ICC’s code of conduct commission, at a hearing in Doha, Qatar, next month.

Pakistan Will Fight Out Spot Fixing Issue, Ramiz Raja

Ramiz Raja former opener of Pakistan’s team is also performing his duties in ICC task team for Pakistan said that Pakistan is full of talented players and they know how to handle the situation. Pakistan is under pressure since after the spot fixing. Pakistan is facing tough time after Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer is suspended by ICC.

He also talk about the world cup and said that Shahid Afridi has to concentrate on the available talent of Pakistan. He added that Pakistani players have enough talent to overcome the jolt of fixing.

He also said that different players have different integrity level. There are some players who accept the money when it offers to them and some refuses it. He declared it different reaction from different individuals.

While talking about Pakistan’s cricket future he said that foreign team will play with Pakistan only if they find them credible so main focus should be on credibility. Ramiz Raja is currently working with PCB for restoration of credibility of the team. Pakistan has introduced many reforms and it was also appreciated by PCB. It’s up to Pakistan Cricket Board’s effort that how long they will take to make it all right at Pakistan’s end.

Four more Pakistan players implicated in fixing

KARACHI: Pakistan’s cricket fixing scandal deepened Wednesday as television footage apparently showed bookmaker Mazhar Majeed implicating another four Pakistani players during a crisis-hit tour of England.

Pakistan’s largest private television station Geo aired the footage late Tuesday, apparently taken from a British tabloid sting operation during Pakistan’s fourth Test against England at Lord’s in August.

The News of the World report showed Majeed posing as a marketing agent and claiming that seven Pakistani players would obey his orders during matches.

In August, the newspaper named former Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer as implicated in the sting. All three have since been provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

But the latest footage showed Majeed speaking to an undercover reporter and

Alam sees progress for Pakistan cricket

ABU DHABI: Manager Intikhab Alam on Thursday expressed confidence that Pakistan cricket was heading in the right direction after drawing the two-Test series against South Africa.

Both Tests were drawn and Alam believes this will establish a solid platform for his team to build upon following a turbulent last four months.

Pakistan cricket was rocked by spot-fixing allegations which led to the suspensions of former Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, leaving them to rebuild their system.

The International Cricket Council directed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take serious measures to curb corruption and disciplinary problems in their cricket or face crippling sanctions.

Alam said Pakistan cricket was progressing both on and off the field.

“We have put in a lot of efforts and I think with a good result in

Butt, Asif demand outstanding dues from PCB

Staff Report

LAHORE: Suspended duo Salman Butt and pacer Mohammad Asif asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to release their outstanding match fees and bonuses since the Twenty20 World Cup earlier this year.

Butt and Asif have written to the Pakistan Cricket Board to release the money.

Butt, who along with pacers Asif and Mohammad Aamer were suspended on suspicion of spot fixing, confirmed he had written to the PCB for release of an amount of approximately Rs 8.7 million ($101,000).

“I am facing a lot of difficulties now because of not having received any of my outstanding amount from the board, this amount goes back to the Twenty20 World Cup and includes match fees, win bonuses and shares from logo sponsorships,” Butt said.

Zakir Khan, the director of PCB’s international cricket operations, confirmed receiving emails for release of

South Africa opts to bat first against Pakistan

DUBAI: South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first in the first Test match against Pakistan here on Friday.

Pakistan will hope to put a series of on- and off-field problems behind them and build under new captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

Pakistan’s last Test against England at Lord’s in August has been a subject of separate inquiries from Scotland Yard and the International Cricket Council (ICC) after a British newspaper report claimed several of its players accepted money from match-fixers.

Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer — accused of contriving deliberate no-balls during that match — were provisionally suspended by the ICC.

Misbah replaced Salman as captain for the two-Test series, shifted to the United Arab Emirates after South Africa refused to tour Pakistan over security fears.

Both Dubai and Abu

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