Thaindian News

London, Sep 2 (ANI): Pakistan has dropped Test skipper Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir from the Twenty20 and one-day series against England under pressure from the ICC and England Cricket Board.

The Pakistan cricket team is in the midst of a betting scam, where fast bowlers Aamir and Asif are alleged to have bowled pre-arranged no-balls in the Lord’s Test against England.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said the players will not play the two Twenty20 and five one-day matches this month.

“We are 13 this morning and it will remain the same. We have asked for replacements for the three players who have gone. We will remain 13 for the first two Twenty20 matches,” Saeed told reporters here.

Butt, Asif and Aamir are in London to present their case to Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ijaz Butt and the High Commission officials.

The ICC and the host ECB had made it clear that the tainted players had to be dropped for the series to go on.

Meanwhile, Sports Minister Aijaz Jakhrani on Thursday said the players might play the one-day series.

“They are not playing because they have probably gone to answer the investigating team. They are not at the venue where the matches are being held, so they would not be playing. Probably they will not play Twenty20 matches but they might be back for the one-dayers,” Jakhrani said.

“The information that I have received is that they have gone to London to answer some questions and that is why they are not playing in the Twenty20 matches,” he added. (ANI)