Spot Fixing Scandal Thread: The Legend Continues

[TruSachFan]

So, the verdict is out tomorrow. What do you guys think will happen?

They should all get life bans in my opinion. But this is my guess.

Butt - life ban
Asif - 5 yrs ban ( should be a life ban but will be let off again)
Amir - 2 yrs ban

 

[pcfan123]

5 years would pretty much be a life ban for Asif

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also is the sentencing due tomorrow as well? or just the verdict

 

[TruSachFan]

I believe it's just the verdict

 

[sami ullah khan]

So, the verdict is out tomorrow. What do you guys think will happen?

They should all get life bans in my opinion. But this is my guess.

Butt - life ban
Asif - 5 yrs ban ( should be a life ban but will be let off again)
Amir - 2 yrs ban

Thats pretty much equals life ban for Asif. He is already 29-30. I don't see him making a comeback at 35.
Things do look good for Amir though. I think he will be handed out a ban of 2-5 years. If he is strong mentally (a huge question mark), he can make a comeback to international cricket. However Mr Butt is as good as gone. I only hope that he takes crap like Kamran Akmal with him while he is going down.

 

[TruSachFan]

Asif is a cunning chap.

The pair, along with Mohammad Amir, have pleaded not guilty to charges of bowling deliberate no-balls in the fourth Test against England, allegedly at the behest of player-agent Mazhar Majeed. But on day five of the hearing, during which Asif presented his defence and was then cross-examined by ICC lawyers, the explanations of why a no-ball was bowled suggest that it was the result of a direct or indirect instruction from Butt.

Spot-fixing: Differences between Butt and Asif grow | Cricket News | Cricinfo ICC Site | ESPN Cricinfo

Looks like he's blaming Butt for his no balls

 

[sami ullah khan]

^That was to be expected. Everyone is going to try and save their skin. Butt would have done the same if he were to be the bowler. Its their careers that are stake here.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

I would go along with what you've suggested TruSachfan.

Asif might get a harsher ban just as an example (even if 5 years would effectively end his career)

and it's hard to see how they can dish out anything less than 2 years to Amir if he's involved in match-fixing. However, what saddens me about Amir's case is, while I do think he was somewhat pulled into this at a very young age he was still clearly involved in something very, very, very wrong and it's really sad he's just taken a not-guilty stance. Would be far happier seeing him play for pakistan again as someone who knew he'd made mistakes rather than someone who denied he had.

 

[BKB1991]

The thing is if he had pleaded guilty, it would have effectively ended both Butt and Asifs cases. With them pleading innocent I reckon they believe they have a chance getting out of this mess without serious punishments.

 

[Sureshot]

The evidence against them is pretty strong for them to "get away with it" would require some pretty inept and weak judgement from the ICC. There's no smoke without fire, you cannot explain how Mazheer Majheed (iirc) knew when those no-balls would take place by any other process than it being fixed. They might have got away with it with one no-ball, but three?

I fear for cricket if the verdict is not guilty. The verdict and the inevitable punishments have to reflect what they've done to the sport and how the sport must stamp out stuff like this.

 

[Themer]

I'd find it acceptable for Amir to be banned for 2-3 years while Butt and Asif were to receive 4-5.

Butt getting a longer one for basically being the ring leader and Asif due to his previous disciplinary record.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

for me, why Butt has to be banned the most harshly is he clearly did confer with amir and asif before the no-balls. He was definitely ring-leader.

does anyone find the postponement odd? what is that for? if anything, were they proved innocent they would be opening themselves up for world cup selection. Obviously it's extremely unlikely they will, but of all the 3 amir is the most likely to be found not guilty, and it was his lawyer that pushed for the postponement.

I'm guessing if they were banned the time they've already been suspended would have to count as time served. so any sentence is going to be minus around 6 months.

 

[Cricketman]

I don't think time served should count. Correct me if i'm wrong, but the time the trial took doesn't subtract from a sentence in a regular crime right?

 

[pcfan123]

In criminal court in the US no, but then again this is not a criminal proceeding, nor is it a US court of law. Who knows what the rules of litigation here are.

 

[Sureshot]

I think in the past when players have been suspended pending an investigation and then been banned, they're time in suspension has counted as part of their ban.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

I don't think time served should count. Correct me if i'm wrong, but the time the trial took doesn't subtract from a sentence in a regular crime right?

no, but if you have been imprisoned prior to appearing in court it might. anyway, Mark is right, it's not a court of law so yeah, it's irrelevant if I think about it.