12 January,2011 09:12 AM IST | | AFP
Former Pakistan players and fans on Tuesday expressed their disappointment after an anti-corruption tribunal against three cricketers ended in Doha without a decision.
The tribunal hearing allegations against Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer decided to continue its deliberations and hold a further hearing in Doha on February 5.
The trio face charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan's tour of England last year in a scandal that rocked the sport. It is alleged that they conspired in the bowling of deliberate no-balls -- claims they all deny.
Pakistani media reported on Tuesday that Aamer's lawyer, Shahid Karim, had asked the tribunal headed by Michael Beloff to defer announcing its verdict.
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Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas criticised the delay in the decision.
"It's absurd," Abbas told AFP. "The International Cricket Council (ICC) has kept the players hostage for the last five months and now they have deferred the decision, which is inexplicable."
Abbas said the three key players cannot participate in the World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19 to April 2.
All 14 competing countries have to announce their final 15-man squad by January 19.
"Because the players will continue to remain suspended they cannot play at any level, cannot practice so they are virtually out of the World Cup," said Abbas.
Another former captain Asif Iqbal was also surprised at the delay.
"The ICC has taken so much time on this case and have spent so much money on it and yet could not take a decision... it is strange," said Iqbal.
"I am surprised at the delay."
u00a0Former spin bowler Iqbal Qasim, however, backed the decision.
"Since it is a high-profile case, so any judgement needed to be properly gauged and legal opinion is also required and that's why they have delayed the decision," said Qasim.
Fans also criticised the delay.
"It's a conspiracy from the beginning, they want our key players out of the World Cup," said Haris Hussain, who heard the news on television in downtown Karachi.
"Pakistan will badly miss these three players and it would have been better had a decision announced."
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