Banned Pak cricketers to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court on May 20
March 18th, 2011 - 12:33 pm ICT by ANILondon, Mar 18 (ANI): Former Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif will stand trial at Southwark Crown Court on conspiracy charges on May 20.
The trio had appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday and were given unconditional bail ahead of the hearing on May 20.
The players have been accused of cheating and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, which the trio have denied as of now, the BBC reports.
A fourth man, Mazhar Majeed, has been granted bail on condition that he should surrender his passport.
The charges relate to an alleged plot to deliberately bowl no balls in the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s last August.
During the hearing, District Judge Howard Riddle said: “There is no doubt the allegations are very serious and I know you recognize that.”
All three players have already been banned by the International Cricket Council over the affair - Butt for 10 years, with five of them suspended, Mohammad Asif for seven years, and Amir five years, the report said.
However, they are reportedly preparing to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Accepting corrupt payments is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment and an unlimited fine. (ANI)
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