Spot-fixing ban to be discussed at ICC meet

Dubai: The ban imposed on three Pakistani cricketers for spot-fixing and final evaluation on the readiness of the three host nations for the Cricket World Cup will be on the top of agenda when the ICC Executive Board meets here on February 15-16.

The ICC Executive Board will be briefed on the ban handed on Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamir after an independent anti-doping tribunal found them guilty of spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord's last August.

Butt, Asif and Amir were banned for ten, seven and five years respectively.

"Following regular briefings, the ICC Executive Board will receive a final report on the successful prosecution of three Pakistan Cricketers - Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif - in Doha, Qatar on spot fixing charges under the ICC Anti Corruption Code," an ICC statement said.

"I am sure the Board will appreciate closure of this matter and acknowledge the good work performed by the ICC legal team and the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit in dealing with this complex issue," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said in the statement.

"This has been a testing time for many of us and I am pleased that we were decisive and able to receive the independent Tribunal's verdict and sanction before the ICC Cricket World Cup starts," Lorgat said.

"At a later stage we will follow up with a detailed review and look to enhance our Anti Corruption Code and our protocols and procedures following this experience. The Board will also receive an update from the Pakistan Task Team," he said.

The readiness of the three host nations - Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka - for the February 19-April 2 World Cup will also be discussed in the two-day meeting in the first of four scheduled ICC meetings this year.

"With the Opening Ceremony in Dhaka only 48 hours after the ICC Board meeting there will be a final report on the readiness of the three host nations - Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka - to stage the ICC's flagship event which will begin on 19 February in Dhaka and culminate with the final in Mumbai on 2 April," the ICC said.

Other important issues the Board will consider include the strategy for the next five years (2011-15) following a joint work session on February 14 with members of ICC Chief Executives' Committee and recommendation of ICC Governance and Review committee on the qualification or otherwise of members' participation in the 10-team World Cup in 2015.

"The Strategic Plan is, of course, essential to steer the ICC during the next five years and I am grateful that the directors and CEC members will have spent so much time to help craft the strategy for the world cricket," Lorgat said.

Source: CricketNext

Spot-fixing ban to be discussed at ICC meet

Dubai: The ban imposed on three Pakistani cricketers for spot-fixing and final evaluation on the readiness of the three host nations for the Cricket World Cup will be on the top of agenda when the ICC Executive Board meets here on February 15-16.

The ICC Executive Board will be briefed on the ban handed on Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamir after an independent anti-doping tribunal found them guilty of spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord's last August.

Butt, Asif and Amir were banned for ten, seven and five years respectively.

"Following regular briefings, the ICC Executive Board will receive a final report on the successful prosecution of three Pakistan Cricketers - Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif - in Doha, Qatar on spot fixing charges under the ICC Anti Corruption Code," an ICC statement said.

"I am sure the Board will appreciate closure of this matter and acknowledge the good work performed by the ICC legal team and the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit in dealing with this complex issue," ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said in the statement.

"This has been a testing time for many of us and I am pleased that we were decisive and able to receive the independent Tribunal's verdict and sanction before the ICC Cricket World Cup starts," Lorgat said.

"At a later stage we will follow up with a detailed review and look to enhance our Anti Corruption Code and our protocols and procedures following this experience. The Board will also receive an update from the Pakistan Task Team," he said.

The readiness of the three host nations - Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka - for the February 19-April 2 World Cup will also be discussed in the two-day meeting in the first of four scheduled ICC meetings this year.

"With the Opening Ceremony in Dhaka only 48 hours after the ICC Board meeting there will be a final report on the readiness of the three host nations - Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka - to stage the ICC's flagship event which will begin on 19 February in Dhaka and culminate with the final in Mumbai on 2 April," the ICC said.

Other important issues the Board will consider include the strategy for the next five years (2011-15) following a joint work session on February 14 with members of ICC Chief Executives' Committee and recommendation of ICC Governance and Review committee on the qualification or otherwise of members' participation in the 10-team World Cup in 2015.

"The Strategic Plan is, of course, essential to steer the ICC during the next five years and I am grateful that the directors and CEC members will have spent so much time to help craft the strategy for the world cricket," Lorgat said.

Source: CricketNext

Banned Salman Butt to give expert opinions during 2011 Cricket World Cup

Pakistan cricket can hardly stay away from controversies and there is another one brewing at the moment, with banned Test captain Salman Butt having entered into an agreement with a private television channel to give expert opinion on the World Cup.

Sources confirmed to PTI that Butt had entered into an agreement with the channel five television for giving comments on the World Cup.
"He is being paid an undisclosed amount for the entire World Cup, said to be around half a million rupees," a source said.

"Butt will be giving expert opinions on some matches of the World Cup particularly those involving Pakistan in the tournament," the source added. Butt was last week banned for 10 years by an anti-corruption tribunal of the International Cricket Council on charges of spot-fixing. His teammates Mohammad Asif was banned for seven years and Mohammad Amir for five years by the tribunal.

"Clearly if Butt does appear on a television channel as an expert during the World Cup, many people are going to question the ethics of having a banned cricketer comment on the mega-event and Pakistan team," the source said. He added that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was not aware of this development yet and might be in a shock since they are also waiting for the detailed judgment of the ICC tribunal, which they should get 'unofficially' this week.

"It remains to be seen how the International Cricket Council will react to having a banned player work as a cricket expert during the World Cup as the ban does cover a lot of areas." The source noted that since Butt would technically be employed by the channel that might cause the ICC to react as under the ban, the trio cannot take part in any sanctioned and official cricket activity or event.

A similar controversy had erupted in India when the banned former captain Mohammad Azharuddin appeared on a television show, leading to strong reactions from the ICC, cricket followers and experts. But the source pointed out that Ajay Jadeja, another former Indian player, who faced sanctions for his role in the match-fixing scandal was now a regular expert on many Indian television channels. Though another source said that Jadeja had already completed his ban period.

A PCB official said that once the detailed judgment came, the board would know where the players stood "but there is a fear that the trio might also lose their jobs with their departments as they can't even play domestic cricket during the ban period."

source:(PTI)