ICC confirms bans for Pakistan trio

The International Cricket Council confirmed today its has handed down suspensions to three Pakistan cricketers who allegedly accepted cash to deliberately bowl no-balls during a Lord's Test match.

At the end of the anti-corruption tribunal in Doha, Salman Butt was given the heaviest penalty - a 10-year ban, five years of which are suspended.

Mohammad Asif has been banned for seven years, two of which are suspended, while Mohammad Amir has been banned for five years.

The ICC released a statement from Michael Beloff QC, the chairman of the independent tribunal which heard the case.

Beloff said that the tribunal had dismissed a charge under Article 2.1.1 of the ICC's anti-corruption code that Butt had deliberately batted out a maiden over.

However, they found the charge under Article 2.4.2 of the code, that the former Pakistan captain had failed to disclose information to the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit about an approach by player agent Mazhar Majeed to bat out a maiden over, proved.

Charges against Asif and Amir under Article 2.1.1 of the code were proved.

Beloff's statement read: "The Tribunal found that the charges under Article 2.1.1 of the Code that (respectively) Mr Asif agreed to bowl and did bowl a deliberate no ball in the Lord's Test match played between Pakistan and England from 26 to 29 August 2010, Mr Amir agreed to bowl and did bowl two deliberate no balls in the same Test, and Mr Butt was party to the bowling of those deliberate no balls, were proved."

The statement continued: "We impose the following sanctions:

"On Mr Butt a sanction of 10 years ineligibility, five years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of Anti-Corruption education.

"On Mr Asif a sanction of seven years ineligibility, two years of which are suspended on condition that he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a programme of Anti-Corruption education.

"On Mr Amir sanction of five years of ineligibility.

"No further sanctions are imposed on any player and no orders are made as to costs."