ICC bans Pakistan trio for five years

DOHA, (Reuters) – Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt  and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were banned for  at least five years today after they were found guilty of  corruption by an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal.
Michael Beloff, the lawyer who headed the tribunal,  announced that Butt, 26, was banned for 10 years with five of  them suspended.
Asif, 28, was ruled out for seven years — two of which are  suspended —  while 18-year-old Amir was banned for five.
News of the bans came a day after British prosecutors  announced the trio would face criminal charges over their part  in last year’s spot-fixing scandal, specifically over their  actions in the fourth cricket test against England at Lord’s.
Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said the trio, along  with 35-year-old sports agent Mazhar Majeed from Croydon,  England, had been charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept  corrupt payments and with conspiracy to cheat.
The trio have denied spot-fixing, the offence of  pre-arranging individual events within a match which may not  affect the result.