Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan has slammed the ICC's suspension of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.
High commissioner hits out at ICC suspension of Pakistan trio
Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan has hit out at the International Cricket Council's decision to suspend Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, saying they have bowed to public pressure.
The ICC suspended the trio and charged them in regards of their alleged involvement in a spot-fixing scam.
The game's governing body charged Butt, Asif and Amir "under Article 2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel relating to alleged irregular behaviour during, and in relation to, the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's last month".
In accordance with the provisions of that code, Butt, Asif and Amir have been immediately barred from participating in all cricket and related activities until the case has been concluded.
The three had already voluntarily stepped down from the remainder of the tour of England as they seek to clear their names, and with a police investigation currently active the players are due to be questioned on Friday.
Unnecessary
Hasan suggested the ICC's intervention was unnecessary, accused them of 'playing to the public gallery' and also hinted at an anti-Pakistan stance.
"The ICC had no business to take this action, they are trying to play to the public gallery," he said.
"When (ICC chief executive) Haroon Lorgat came to see me yesterday evening he was very sympathetic and supportive.
"He said in order to eliminate corruption from cricket the ICC will have to act but in this case he said he was satisfied that Scotland Yard and the British police were proceeding according to law and investigating the matter and would just issue notices for explanation and not go beyond that.
"But then he got a phone call from ICC president Sharad Pawar from India and he talks to him. Mr Lorgat goes and then the person who does not have any documents prepares a document of five pages and pushes this on the doormats of the players at their hotel.
"They (the ICC) have done the wrong thing. When there is a live police inquiry this takes precedence over both the ICC, civil or regulatory investigation and indeed any internal disciplinary investigation.
"To take action now is of course unhelpful, premature and unnecessary considering the players had already voluntarily withdrawn from playing."
Irfan and Shafiq called up
Meanwhile, Pakistan have called up Mohammad Irfan and Asad Shafiq for the NatWest Series of one-day international matches against England.
Irfan is a 28-year-old fast bowler who is 7ft 1in tall and has only played 10 first-class matches, while Shafiq is a 24-year-old right-handed batsman and occasional wicketkeeper.
