Spot-fixing: ICC hands lengthy bans to Pak trio - REAL STORY

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed a 10-year ban to former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, while pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been banned for 7 and 5 years respectively, report said Saturday. The three players at the centre of the spot-fixing allegations that rocked the Lord's Test against England in August 2010 were charged by the Scotland Yard with conspiracy to obtain and accept cash, and conspiracy to cheat. Former captain Salman Butt was banned for 10 years, Asif for seven years while Amir was banned for five years, anti-corruption tribunal head Michael Beloff told a press conference in Doha.

Pakistan spot-fixing trial: Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir to learn fate

Senior lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have been considering evidence that the men conspired to defraud bookmakers for several months.

A fourth man, businessman Mazhar Majeed, could also be charged over allegations he accepted £150,000 to fix the actions of players during a Test match against England at Lord's in August last year.

Captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have all been interviewed under caution by Metropolitan Police officers. Majeed was arrested.

Butt, Asif and Amir were provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last year. The three players deny the charges brought by the ICC under their anti-corruption code.

A fifth man, player Wahab Riaz, was also interviewed under caution but it is understood prosecutors did not consider bringing charges against him.

The reputation of the sport was engulfed in controversy over claims of corruption after allegations surfaced in the News of the World newspaper.

Majeed is accused of accepting cash to ask players to deliberately bowl no-balls during their tour of England.

A CPS spokesman said a decision on the fate of Butt, Asif, Amir and Majeed will be released at around 11am.

The PCB still claims that it could consider the three players for the World Cup, which starts on Feb 19, provided they get exonerated.

However, former players and fans believe the trio might not be able to return to cricket in the near future.

"I think Butt would get the maximum punishment which could be even a life ban," predicts former Test fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz.

Butt, Pakistan's former Test captain, has dismissed claims he will receive a life ban.

Some reports claim both Butt and Asif could be banned for life while Amir may be handed a five-year suspension.

"I don't believe in what the media is saying," Butt said. "My lawyer (Yasin Patel) terms the case as 50-50, so at the moment I don't want to say much.

"Cricket has been my livelihood, so I want that to carry on and I hope every Pakistani fan prays for me."

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