Pakistan drops three players
The three Pakistan cricketers at the centre of a betting scandal have
been released from the squad for the remainder of the tour of England,
team manager Yawar Saeed said Thursday.
|
The three Pakistani cricketers who are involved in the
betting scandal and dropped from the coming Onedayers in
England Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and skipper Salman
Butt |
Speaking to reporters ahead of Pakistan’s one-day game against
Somerset Saeed said Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer
and Mohammad Asif had been dropped from the two upcoming Twenty20 games.
Pakistan would also seek replacements for the five one-day limited overs
games against England, Saeed added, denying the trio had been suspended.
“The T20 squad will remain what it is here this morning, ie 13
people,” Saeed said. “When we play the one-day internationals we will be
asking for replacements to make the squad up to 16.
“The (three) players have not been suspended.”
Butt, Aamer and Asif were named in a report by Britain’s News of the
World tabloid, which alleged the players conspired to arrange for
deliberate no-balls to be bowled at precise points in last week’s Test
match against England.
Saaed added he could not comment about the trio’s state of mind,
saying: “They are still here.
I cannot answer anything on their behalf because investigations are
being made by Scotland Yard and the ICC (International Cricket Council)
and others.
“The game must go on, cricket will be played at its best.” England
and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke told reporters at
the ground: “The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomes the
anouncement of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s squad for the Natwest T20
and NatWest ODI series.”
Presently, Pakistan are unable to play home matches after an armed
attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in March last year. Clarke,
chairman of the ICC’s Pakistan task team, said he was working with other
officials to draw up a plan to safeguard cricket in the country.
TAUNTON, AFP |
