Police set to quiz Pakistani trio

LONDON — British police were expected Friday to quiz the three banned Pakistan cricketers embroiled in an alleged betting scam as the sport's world governing body was to explain their charges against them.Test captain Salman Butt, plus bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, were expected to be questioned over the scandal that has rocked the cricket world, after they were sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.The ICC was to explain the provisional suspensions and corruption charges hanging over them in a press conference at the "home of cricket", Lord's in north London.The sanctions have infuriated the Pakistani authorities, with Islamabad's ambassador to London blasting their actions as premature.High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan said Friday the ICC had "no business" to suspend them while the police investigation was ongoing.The trio were summoned for a meeting at the embassy on Thursday for a meeting with Hasan and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt.Afterwards, Hasan declared they were not guilty of "spot-fixing", adding he thought they might have been set up by a British newspaper sting."I met the cricketers for two hours, cross-questioned them, got to the bottom of it and concluded that they were innocent," Hasan told BBC radio.The ICC "have done the wrong thing. When there's a live police inquiry, this takes precedence over both the ICC, civil or regulatory investigations and any internal disciplinary investigations."To take action now is unhelpful, premature and unnecessary considering the players had already voluntarily withdrawn from playing."The ICC had no business to take this action. The ICC is just playing to the public gallery."The players withdrew Thursday from Pakistan's tour England, with Hasan citing the "mental torture" they were going through.They "want to defend their honour, they want to prove themselves innocent," he said.The ICC has charged the three stars with "various offences" under its anti-corruption code and has suspended them with immediate effect pendi

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