Pakistan’s Butt, Asif to know fate in April

AFP

Former Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt (left) and Mohammad Asif.

Lausanne – Disgraced former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif should learn in April whether the Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned their bans for spot-fixing.

A spokesman for the Swiss-based court told AFP on Thursday that the results of the two ex-players' hearings, held at the start of February, were scheduled to be issued in a month's time.

Butt, Asif and fellow paceman Mohammad Amir were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2011 after being found guilty of corruption for deliberately contriving no balls to order in the infamous Lord's Test against England in 2010.

In November 2011, the trio were also jailed by a British court over the scandal, which was linked to an illegal betting ring.

All three were released last year after completing half of their sentences.

The case was among cricket's biggest scandals of recent years.

Butt, now 28, was banned from the game for 10 years, with the possibility of five suspended.

He maintains that the suspension was a career-ending punishment and has insisted he should be given another opportunity to play for Pakistan.

Asif, now 30, was banned for seven years, with two suspended, and the then teenager Aamer for five years.

Amir, now 20, decided not to pursue his appeal at the CAS, after pleading guilty to the charges in Britain.

Asif played 23 Tests and 38 one-day internationals and was regarded as one of the best new-ball bowlers in the world.

Butt was made Test captain on the tour of England while Amir was regarded as the fastest emerging bowler in the world. – Sapa-AFP