PCB backs ICC tribunal's decision on banned players

"The verdict against the three players are regrettable and a sad reality, which must be faced. PCB has full confidence in the process followed by the tribunal culminating in the sanctions on the three players under the ICC Anti Corruption Code," the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said in a statement today.

The ICC banned former Pakistan captain Salman Butt for 10 years and sanctioned seven and five years of ineligibility for pace duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir after finding the three cricketers guilty of spot-fixing.

Butt also described the whole spot-fixing scandal involving Salman Butt, Asif and Aamir as painful for Pakistan cricket.

"In August 2010, when this issue surfaced the three players were under contract with PCB. As their employer, PCB provided them with legal support in U K at that time. However, after they were provisionally suspended by ICC under the Anti Corruption Code, the players had to face the tribunal in their individual capacity.

"PCB thereafter implemented the clause 4.6.4 of the ICC Anti Corruption Code which states that no player may play, coach or otherwise participate or be involved in any capacity in any International Match or any other kind of match, function, event or activity during the period of Provisional Suspension," Butt said.