ICC wrong to suspend Pak trio: ambassador

LONDON: Islamabad's ambassador to London said Friday that cricket's world governing body had ‘no business’ to suspend the Pakistan players engulfed in an alleged betting scam.

Wajid Shamsul Hasan told BBC radio that the International Cricket Council (ICC) was trying to "play to the public gallery" by provisionally suspending Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif.

High commissioner Hasan spoke to the trio on Thursday and insisted afterwards that they were innocent of "spot-fixing", and said he thought they had been set up by a British newspaper sting.

The players have decided to take no further part in the Pakistan squad's tour of England.

Hasan said Friday that that should have been enough and there was no need for the ICC to suspend them.

He also suggested that shadowy links to Indian bookmakers had a part to play in the affair.

The players have "already said they will not play this series" and simply "want to defend their honour, they want to prove themselves innocent," Hasan said.

"The ICC had no business to take this action... the ICC just try to play to the public gallery."

The News of the World newspaper alleged that it paid Mazhar Majeed, an agent for several Pakistan players, 150,000 pounds (185,000 euros, 230,000 dollars) in return for advance knowledge of pre-arranged no-balls -- normally accidental -- which could then be bet upon.

He has since been arrested and bailed by British police.

Hasan added: "Indian bookies were involved in it and this man Majeed... he was working for the Indian Bombay bookies." AGENCIES