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LAHORE: Salman Butt’s former lawyer Aftab Gul, who represented the former Pakistan captain at the ICC spot-fixing hearings in UAE, believes that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London does not have enough evidence to give an adverse decision against the banned batsman and pacer Mohammad Asif.
Butt and Asif, who were banned by the ICC anti-corruption tribunal for their role in the spot-fixing scandal that broke out in England, are presently awaiting a verdict from the jury at the Southwark crown court which is hearing criminal cases of cheating and conspiracy.
“I don't think these two players should get an adverse judgment from the court,” Gul said citing a lack of evidence for the charges brought against the two cricketers by the crown prosecutor’s office.
“The court does not have enough evidence to prove them guilty. In fact the footage of the defunct 'News of the world' newspaper is also inconclusive as these players are not seen receiving money from the alleged bookmaker and their agent, Mazhar Majeed,” Gul noted.
“In these circumstances I think any punishment to Butt and Asif would be unjust,” he added.
Gul said since teenage pacer Mohammad Amir, the third player involved in the scandal, had already given a written confession therefore his chances were bleak but that the other two should be given the benefit of doubt.
Amir and bookie and player agent Mazhar Majeed have been asked to appear before the crown court and jury on November 3 and 4 with a decision expected from the court next week.
The Jury deciding on the spot-fixing trail at the Southwark Crown Court were sent home for the weekend after having failed to reach a verdict in two days of deliberation.
The judge, Mr Justice Cooke, urged the jury of six men and six women to reach a unanimous verdict.
