csconstantine.com

{ Mohammad Amir's lawyer, Sharid Karim, is to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on behalf of his client over his five-year ban. Photograph: Saurabh Das/AP

The International Cricket Council is pressing World Cup organisers on the subcontinent to provide proof that they will impose the toughest anti-corruption measures in history after imposing lengthy bans on three Pakistan players for spot-fixing in the Lord's Test against England last summer.

ICC officials are convinced the punishment imposed by their anti-corruption tribunal on the former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and the fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir proves that the fight against corruption can be won – but only if the World Cup, which takes place in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh over the next two months, escapes allegations of malpractice.

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC's chief executive, responded today to the sentences imposed by the tribunal in Doha by saying: "I commend the decision to deliver lengthy bans to all three players. Corruption in our game will never be tolerated and once again I reiterate our zero-tolerance approach.

"I hope this investigation, and the verdicts delivered, makes that message crystal clear. We are reviewing the measures that are in place for players and officials at all World Cup venues. We will ensure that all players are aware of their obligations. We will do everything to ensure that the World Cup is clean."

Some prominent cricket officials are privately uneasy about the routinely last-minute arrangements for a World Cup that begins in 13 days. England's group match against India in Kolkata was shifted to Bangalore last week, sending the travel plans for hundreds of England fans into chaos without the hint of an apology. When several new or rebuilt stadiums are still full of cranes and diggers, then the establishment of proven no-go zones around the dressing rooms is bound to be low down the list of priorities.

Butt, Asif and Amir are the first players to be banned for involvement in spot-fixing – the pre-planning of individual events in a cricket match for the purpose of illegal betting scams, events that superficially are so insignificant they are virtually impossible to spot on the field of play.

Butt, an intelligent and urbane captain, had been regarded as a potential saviour for Pakistan cricket before allegations of spot-fixing were made by the News of the World five months ago. He was banned for 10 years, five of them suspended, for failing to disclose an approach by his agent, Mazhar Majeed, to bat out a maiden over in the Oval Test as part of an illegal betting coup. He was also said to be party to the bowling of the deliberate no-balls by Asif and Amir.

Asif was banned for seven years, two of them suspended if, like Butt, he undergoes anti-corruption education. He would be 33 by the time his ban expired. It is possible that his career, like that of Butt, is over.

Amir's lawyer, Sharid Karim, has indicated that an appeal will be lodged with the court of arbitration for sport on behalf of his client, whose five-year ban, if fully served, would allow him to make a comeback at 23. It was Amir, a brilliantly talented 18-year-old, who was most shocked. "I was not expecting that much of a ban," he said as he left the Qatar Financial Centre. "Cricket has given me everything. If I don't play cricket, I have nothing."

Amir will be hopeful of a reduced sentence because of remarks by Michael Beloff, the tribunal chairman. "The tribunal has recommended to the ICC certain changes to the code with a view to providing flexibility in relation to minimum sentences in exceptional circumstances," Beloff said. The ICC has refused to comment until Beloff's full report is produced.

Pakistan has, strikingly, fallen into line with the ICC judgment. Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani, the sports minister, who had reacted angrily when the story first surfaced, said: "If players are involved, there should be a punishment as other players would learn. We accept the decision. It will be good for the game of cricket."

On Friday the three players were separately charged by the Crown Prosecution Service with offences that carry maximum prison sentences of seven years and two years. They will now be forced to return to England next month to face charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and also conspiracy to cheat. The players deny any wrongdoing.

Agences de presses

Labels: clean, Guardian, increase, matchfixing, pressure, World