Pakistani former Test captain Salman Butt, surrounded by members of the media leaves the Southwark court in London after being found guilty of match fixing. Photo / AP
The International Cricket Council says the guilty verdicts handed down to two Pakistani cricketers in the spot-fixing case in England is a further warning to players who might be tempted to engage in corrupt activity within the sport.
"ICC takes no pleasure from the fact that these players stepped outside not only the laws of the game but also of the country in which they were participating,'' ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said at a press conference.
Former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif were found guilty earlier overnight of involvement in a "spot-fixing'' betting scam during a match against England last year.
While they had pleaded not guilty another pace bowler Mohammad Aamer had admitted the charges of conspiracy to cheat and to accept corrupt payments,
Lorgat said the players stepped outside the laws.
"The ICC takes no pleasure from the fact that these players stepped outside not only the laws of the game but also the criminal laws of the country in which they were participating,'' said Lorgat.
The ICC chief executive said the court verdict will not have any impact on the bans handed by the governing body.
"To be clear, the developments in the English criminal courts will have no impact upon those periods of suspension, which will remain in full force and effect,'' said Lorgat of the bans imposed by the ICC.
Butt and Asif along with Aamer have already been punished by the ICC after a disciplinary hearing in Doha, Qatar, in February this year.
Butt was banned for ten years (five suspended), Asif for seven years (two suspended) and Aamer for five years.
All three players have filed appeals against their bans at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Lorgat refused to take any questions.
- AFP
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