The fixing scandal surrounding the Pakistan cricket team escalated Thursday when three players were charged with corruption and suspended by the sport's governing body in a case that has rocked the team's tour of England and tainted the integrity of the game. The International Cricket Council said that Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were charged with “various offenses” under the sport's anti-corruption code relating to “alleged irregular behavior” during the fourth Test against England last week – charges that could lead to life bans. The players have been provisionally barred from all forms of cricket pending a resolution of the charges. “We will not tolerate corruption in cricket – simple as that,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement. “We must be decisive with such matters and, if proven, these offenses carry serious penalties up to a life ban. The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game, and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport's integrity. While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant.” The ICC said the players have 14 days to decide if they want a hearing. “It is important, however, that we do not prejudge the guilt of these three players,” Lorgat said. “That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide.” Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed declined to comment on the charges. Earlier Thursday, the three players declared their innocence in a meeting in London with Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan, who said the trio had been put through “mental torture” and would step down for the rest of the England tour. “The three players have said they are extremely disturbed with what has happened in the past one week, specially with regard to their alleged involvement in the scam,” Hasan said in a statement on behalf of the players. “They mention that they are entirely innocent in the whole episode and shall defend their innocence as such. “They further maintain that on account of the mental torture which has deeply affected them all, they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches.” Hasan suggested that the players had been set up by the British newspaper. “They are innocent until proven guilty,” Hasan told reporters outside the Pakistan High Commission. Pakistan wins but down to 11 on troubled tour Pakistan's first match since a betting scandal engulfed the team on its tour of England ended with it having just 11 fit players at its disposal Thursday. Pakistan won a one-day tour game against southwest county Somerset by eight runs in the last over in its final match before Twenty20 and one-day series against England. Pakistan made 264 all out after being sent into bat. Shazaib Hasan top-scored for Pakistan with 105, while Fawad Alam made 97. Somerset finished on 256 for nine with South African Zander de Bruyn unbeaten on 122. Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took three for 40 and paceman Umar Gul three for 66.
