Cricket is Life: Grim scenario for suspended players

What looked like a simple open-and-shut case continues to drag on more than four months after it rocked the cricket world. Armed with ‘compelling evidence’, the International Cricket Council (ICC) went to the six-day hearing in Doha confident that it would prove its charges against three Pakistan cricketers, who are accused of corruption. But the verdict was delayed and will now be announced on February 5.

Meanwhile, according to Cricinfo, the very fact that the Oval Test was also under investigation, in addition to the Lord’s Test, provided a late twist to the final day of an ultimately anti-climactic six-day hearing.

A definitive decision had been expected from the lengthy tribunal hearings. In fact, it is believed that the ICC’s legal team was keen on having a verdict out on Tuesday. But the gravity of the possible sanctions — which range from five years to a lifetime ban — the desire of the players’ lawyers to defer a verdict and the sheer weight of a six-day, 45-hour proceeding which featured oral and written testimonies and tapes, video recordings as well as forensic submissions, made a quick verdict impossible.

The ICC’s lawyers, though, expressed “happiness with the way hearings have gone,” It is understood that in a bid to press for a verdict on Tuesday they withdrew all charges relating to the Oval Test, bar one against Butt.

The hearings began last Thursday and were held behind the firmest of closed doors. There were no official statements were made at all during the hearings, though as proceedings continued, it became clear that differences between the defences of Butt and Asif had emerged, possibly hampering the cases of both players.

An apparent contradiction, however, materialised soon after the tribunal’s statement. Though Beloff said that “all charges relating to the Lord’s Test remain under consideration,” Asif’s London-based legal firm said that on one charge relating to that match, Asif had, in fact, been acquitted.

A statement from their office said that Asif was, “delighted to have been acquitted of the charges brought against him under article 2.4.1 in relation to the Lords Test Match, also played in August 2010.”

Amir’s lawyer, Shahid Karim, who had earlier pushed for the deferment, indicated that the extra time would help his client prepare better to deal with the verdict. “The request we made to the tribunal has been accepted,” Karim said. “On February 5th if the punishment is harsh then we will discuss it with them so we will prepare for that. It is a hearing.

“I am happy with the procedure of the hearing. The ICC code of conduct has a clause which points to looking at the player’s age and past disciplinary record and Amir is young, so we hope the tribunal will keep this in mind.”