Suspended Pakistan trio banned from practicing

The Pakistan Cricket Board has barred three players under international suspension pending investigations into spot fixing from practicing at the National Cricket Academy.

PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been informed of the latest sanction.

"We have sent them letters that they cannot practice at the NCA because they are suspended at the moment," Sarwar told the Associated Press.

Butt had been practicing at the NCA in Lahore since he returned from the troubled tour of England last month.

The three players have been suspended by the International Cricket Council pending investigations into accusations of spot fixing first raised by a British tabloid.

All three have denied the allegations and have filed appeals against their suspensions. The ICC will hold a hearing at Doha, Qatar on October 30-31.

Asif reportedly left for England on Tuesday to meet his lawyers before flying to Doha.

The ICC last week asked the PCB not to support or defend tainted players and to resist making public comments or disclosing confidential information which undermines the integrity, reputation and image of the game or any ongoing disciplinary hearing.

The PCB also agreed to implement competency-based education program for all players, an accountable disciplinary process as well as a deterrent and detection process to protect the game from corrupt elements.

The PCB has 30 days to implement the code of conduct measures or face further, unspecified action.

The Pakistan team is scheduled to leave for the United Arab Emirates on Saturday to play two Twenty20 internationals, five limited-overs internationals and two test matches against South Africa.

Team manager Intikhab Alam had already briefed players about the code of conduct, which must be signed by all the cricketers before they leave for UAE.