ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat talks tough after suspending Pakistan's tainted trio of salman butt, Mohammad Amir and mohammad asif last night

ICC provisionally suspends Butt, Asif and Aamer

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat talks tough after suspending Pakistan's tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif last night

Cricket's world governing body charged three Pakistan stars accused in a betting scam with anti-corruption offences and provisionally suspended them yesterday, as the trio protested their innocence.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were barred from taking part in all cricket matches with immediate effect, although they can appeal the suspension.

Earlier, Pakistan's ambassador to Britain said after meeting the trio that they had asked to miss the rest of the team's tour of England because of the scandal, but said he believed their insistence that they were innocent.

The ICC said it had charged the three stars with offences under its anti-corruption code and they had been provisionally suspended pending a decision on those charges. "We will not tolerate corruption in cricket ufffd simple as that," said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

"We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban.
"The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport's integrity. While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant.

"It is important, however, that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide."

Earlier, Butt, Amir and Asif met with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and Pakistan's ambassador to Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, at the diplomat's

London office.
Speaking afterwards, Hasan said: "The three players have said that they are extremely disturbed by what has happened in the past week, especially in regard of their alleged involvement in the crime. They maintain that on account of the mental torture which has deeply affected them, they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches."

Asked later if he believed the trio were innocent, Hasan replied: "Yes, I believe in their innocence."

Butt, Aamer and Asif were all named in a News of the World report which alleged they were involved in a "spot-fixing" scam by bowling deliberate no-balls in last week's Test match with England in exchange for cash.

However Hasan later questioned the authenticity of video footage shot by the newspaper, saying the players may have been framed.

"The video wasn't timed or dated. It could've been filmed before or after the match," he told the BBC. The trio were quizzed by police during the Lord's Test and had their mobile phones
confiscated.