Pakistan's suspended trio respond to ICC notice

LAHORE: Suspended Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammed Asif have filed detailed replies to the ICC notice, seeking a hearing into allegations that they took bribe for bowling no-balls in a Test match against England.

The International Cricket Council had handed provisional suspension early this month to the three players following an expose by a British tabloid and sent them separate notices.

"Yes the three have filed their detailed replies and the next step will be a preliminary hearing in which the Anti Corruption Unit has to provide evidence to support the suspensions on these players," PCB legal advisor Talib Rizvi said.

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The trio had to respond within 14-days to the notice but the ICC had allowed them an extension which was due to expire on October 4.

"We are hoping now that the players have sent in their detailed replies through their individual lawyers the ICC ACU will soon hold the preliminary hearing," Rizvi said.

Early this month, the world cricket was shocked when 'News of the World' alleged that Aamer and Asif bowled deliberate in the Lord's Test at the behest of a bookie.

The PCB has challenged the ICC decision to suspend the three players but the sport's world governing body has stuck to its guns insisting the provisional suspensions were under the anti-corruption laws.