Pakistan treason hearing postponed

The Lahore High Court on Tuesday heard a petition seeking treason charges be filed against players and officials involved in the spot-fixing scandal in England.

However, LHC judge Khawaja Sharif adjourned the hearing to September 22 as neither the chairman of the board, Ijaz Butt, nor the seven players summoned were present as they are in England.

Lawyer Ishtiaq Ahmed had filed a petition in the LHC after the spot-fixing scandal broke late last month pleading with the court to initiate treason charges.

He also asked the court to seize their assets as they had brought the game into disrepute and harmed the image of Pakistan. PCB legal advisor Talib Rizvi argued with the court that the petition was not admissible as no charges had been proven against the players as yet.

"At present these are just spot-fixing and betting allegations against our players, I told the court," Rizvi told Reuters.

"Nothing is proven as yet so this petition shouldn't be heard."

He added the deputy attorney general had appeared on behalf of the ministry of sports and informed the court that the PCB was an independent body but if any player was found guilty of betting or fixing the government would take severe action against him.

The International Cricket Council has already provisionally suspended the three suspected players, test captain, Salman Butt and pace bowlers, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir.

- Reuters