Former captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer received their punishment at an International Cricket Council tribunal in Doha. Butt was given a 10-year ban with five years suspended, Asif a seven-year ban with two suspended, while Aamer was banned for five years.
The players have been suspended since Sept. 3 after a British tabloid alleged they bowled no balls at prearranged times during the fourth test between Pakistan and England in August at Lord's to fix “spot-betting” markets.
It is alleged The News of the World newspaper paid 150, 000 pounds ($241,000) to the players' agent, Mazhar Majeed.
Michael Beloff, the head of the ICC's corruption unit, said the proven charges related to the Lord's test rather than a preceding match at The Oval.
“The tribunal found that ... Mr. Asif agreed to bowl and did bowl a deliberate no-ball in the Lord's test match played between Pakistan and England from 26 to 29 August 2010, Mr. Aamer agreed to bowl and did bowl two deliberate no-balls in the same test, and Mr. Butt was party to the bowling of those deliberate no balls, were proved,” Beloff said in a statement.
The tribunal cleared Butt of batting out a maiden over during the test at The Oval for financial gain, but proved the charge against the opening batsman of failing to report an illegal approach by Majeed.
Butt and Asif - who along with Aamer had faced a six-day ICC hearing that ended Jan. 11 — will have to participate in an anti-corruption program supervised by the Pakistan Cricket Board in order to not have the suspended part of their sentences imposed.
On Friday, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said the players and their agent would face criminal charges in that country, summoning them on charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat.
CPS head Simon Clements said the organization, which was responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by British police, believed it had enough proof to convict the players.
“We are satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute,” Clements said Friday.
Clements said the CPS would apply for extradition orders against Butt, Asif and Aamer if they do not return to Britain next month.
Majeed is due to appear for an initial hearing at London's City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 17.
