Suspended trio are reserves for Pak T20 event

Islamabad:

The three Pakistan cricketers suspended and charged by the ICC over fixing allegations have been selected as reserves for their regional Pakistani teams for a domestic Twenty20 tournament next month.

Batsman Salman Butt and opening bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were charged after allegations they received money to bowl no-balls at predetermined times in a test against England last month.

Rawalpindi picked Amir, Lahore selected Butt and Asif was included by defending champion Sialkot. However, all three players will need clearance from the ICC to play.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet announced the dates for the tournament. It is likely to be staged in mid-October.

The suspended trio are yet to be told the dates for their ICC hearing, however they are unlikely to be able to play in the T20 event.

According to the ICC anti-corruption code of conduct: "No player or player support personnel who is the subject of any provisional suspension may, during the period of any provisional suspension, 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 (other than authorized anti-corruption education or rehabilitation programs) that is authorized, organized, sanctioned, recognized or supported in any way by the ICC, a National Cricket Federation or any member of a National Cricket Federation."

Rawalpindi chief Naeem Akhtar told The Associated Press that he knew about the law but took a chance with Amir.

"If Amir gets cleared before the Twenty20 tournament and we do not submit his name to the PCB for it, we could not play him in the tournament," he said.

Sarwar echoed Akhtar's comments and said that the regions had hoped players would be cleared by then.

"That's what they (regions) are hoping for and have named the three players among their reserves," Sarwar said.