ICC were wrong to suspend trio, claims Hasan

Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan today claimed the ICC's decision to suspend the three players allegedly involved in the spot-fixing scandal was "unnecessary".

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were last night suspended from the game until allegations they were involved in illegal gambling activity during last week's Fourth Test at Lord's were fully investigated.

The players have voluntarily stepped down from the remainder of the tour of England as they bid to clear their names and were all due to be questioned by police today but Hasan suggested the ICC were wrong to suspend the trio and hinted at an anti-Pakistan stance.

"The ICC had no business to take this action, they are trying to play to the public gallery," he told the BBC.

"When [ICC chief executive] Haroon Lorgat came to see me yesterday evening, he was very sympathetic and supportive.

"He said in order to eliminate corruption from cricket, the ICC will have to act but in this case he said he was satisfied that Scotland Yard and the British police were proceeding according to law and investigating the matter and would just issue notices for explanation and not go beyond that.