Spot-fixing: ICC upholds suspension of Pakistani duo

DUBAI: The code of conduct commissioner of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Michael Beloff, on Sunday rejected the appeals of Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer against suspensions for spot-fixing.

The two, along with fast bowler Mohammad Asif, were provisionally suspended by the ICC over allegations they were involved in spot-fixing during Pakistan's summer tour of England.

All three appealed, but Asif later withdrew his application.

Beloff announced the decision after a two-day hearing which started early Saturday, saying the players will have to appear before another tribunal to further their cases.

"Salman (Butt) and (Mohammad) Aamer had appealed against the suspension imposed on them by the ICC on September 2 for various breaches of the code of conduct.

"Having considered every aspect of the case I dismiss their appeals and they remain suspended," Beloff told reporters outside the ICC headquarters.

The two cricketers arrived with their lawyers - Salman with Khalid Ranjha, a former law minister, and Aftab Gul, a former Pakistan player, and Aamer with his lawyer Shahid Karim.

Beloff said all three cricketers, including Asif, will have to appear before a ICC code of conduct commission which he will announce in due course.

"The players have denied the charges, but they will remain suspended before a code of conduct commission is formed to hear the case.

"It was not up to me to decide whether they committed any crime, the commission will establish their guilt and if they are found guilty then they will be given punishment as per the ICC code of conduct."

The scandal broke after a report by British tabloid The News of the World prompted Scotland Yard to launch an investigation into allegations of spot-fixing during the Lord's Test against England in August.

Police raided the team's hotel in London and questioned Salman, Aamer, Asif and bowler Wahab Riaz, but they have yet to formally level any charges.

Owing to their suspensions, the trio have been excluded from Pakistan's current tour of the United Arab Emirates, where South Africa is the opposition.

Pakistan Cricket Board legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi said the decision was under the ICC jurisdictions.

"The decision is within the ICC's jurisdiction but it will not affect the actual case which we hope will be heard soon," said Rizvi.

ICC in its brief statement said: "The chairman code of conduct commission heard the case in which players had challeneged the suspension under the ICC Anti-Corruption code. After considering all the evidence Beloff has rejected the challenges.

"As such, the players remain provisionally suspended from all cricket pending the outcome of the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal which will hear their disciplinary case in due course."

The ICC said Asif also remained suspended.

"As Asif chose not to challenge his provisional suspension, he also remains suspended. The ICC will make no further comments."

The ICC code of conduct carries a minimum of five year punishment if corruption charges are proved. The maximum punishment is a life ban.

Read more: Spot-fixing: ICC upholds suspension of Pakistani duo - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Spot-fixing-ICC-upholds-suspension-of-Pakistani-duo/articleshow/6846306.cms#ixzz1402qrpls

Tiger Woods upbeat despite losing top spot

LOS ANGELES: A world golf rankings list without Tiger Woods atop it is an unfamiliar sight, but 2010 has been nothing if not "different" for the player who remains the game's undisputed superstar.

The ascent of England's Lee Westwood to the world number one ranking as of Monday sees Woods' 281-week tenure at the top end.

The moment offered little drama, with both Westwood and Woods idle last week. And the American's No. 1 spot had already been under threat for much of the season.

"It has been a different year," Woods noted in September, as he reflected on a 2010 that started amid scandal over his extra-marital affairs and has left him -- so far -- in search of even one title.

Woods, 34, has only two top-five finishes in 12 PGA Tour events. His pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles has stalled at 14 -- his last coming at the 2008 US Open.

Until this year -- when Masters champion Phil Mickelson has challenged steadily, if unsuccessfully -- for the top spot since May, Woods had faced only one potential dethroning in two years.

Spain's Sergio Garcia had been in position to overtake Woods with a victory at Doral in 2009 largely because of Woods' lengthy injury layoff in the wake of his 2008 US Open victory.

Woods first assumed the number one ranking in 1998. Until this week he had been unseated only twice, by Vijay Singh and David Duval.

And Woods will no doubt do all in his power to insure Westwood's reign is short.

The two face off at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai this week, and Woods has made it clear that with three tournaments remaining on his schedule he still has hopes of putting at least one victory, if not more, on his slate for 2010.

"I like where my game is headed," Woods said this month as he promoted his Chevron World Challenge tournament in December. "I like the pieces of it and how they're falling into place.

"In particular at the Ryder Cup, and especially in the singles how I played, and that's the way I know I can play the game of golf."

Woods was 2-down early to Francesco Molinari in their Ryder Cup singles match but rallied to post his biggest ever Ryder Cup win.

Woods finished with seven birdies and an Eagle to win the match on the 15th hole.

For Woods, it was further proof that the swing changes he has been working on with Sean Foley are coming together.

"I don't have it all dialed in yet. But I figured if I could play the way I did in the singles match, which I hadn't done that all year, that's a positive sign," Woods said.

Woods has acknowledged that the personal turmoil of the year - which saw his marriage end in August and is reckoned to have cost him tens of millions in endorsement earnings - has been mirrored by his frustrations on the course.

"All in all it was a long, frustrating year, but in the end it turned out that everything's headed in a positive direction now," he said.

Read more: Tiger Woods upbeat despite losing top spot - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/golf/top-stories/Tiger-Woods-upbeat-despite-losing-top-spot/articleshow/6850057.cms#ixzz1402cialq