Tribunal defers verdict till February 5

The tribunal hearing the spot-fixing case will pronounce its judgement on February 5, until which time the three Pakistani players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir - will remain provisionally suspended. 

In a new twist, however, the tribunal said it had also been investigating the Oval Test between Pakistan and England, and that Butt faced a charge in that context while the two others were acquitted.

"The tribunal has been constituted to hear charges against Butt, Amir and Asif brought under the ICC's anti-corruption code in relation to two Tests played during August 2010 between Pakistan and England, the Oval Test and the Lord's Test," a statement from the tribunal said.

The hearings, which began last Thursday, saw the three accused Pakistani players - defend themselves against the ICC's charge that they were involved in spot-fixing on Pakistan's tour of England last year.

"The tribunal have throughout been very conscious of the importance of these proceedings to the three players and the wider world of cricket," said Michael Beloff, commissioner of the three-man independent hearing.

"Representations have been made to it to reserve any decision on the charges still before it until it has had sufficient time to give the issues careful consideration and until it is able, at the same time as handing down its decision, to provide written reasons.

"This would not be feasible in the timeframe agreed for this hearing in Doha.

"The tribunal has therefore determined to continue its deliberations and hold a further hearing in Doha on the fifth of February of this year, at which its decisions will be handed down to the parties and any consequential matters will be dealt with.

"Until that date, all three players will remain suspended from all cricketing activities."

The tribunal, comprising Beloff, Justice Albie Sachs of South Africa and Sharad Rao of Kenya, was appointed in November to investigate the spot-fixing scandal, which broke in late August. In a News of the World sting, Mazhar Majeed, a player agent, claimed to have paid Amir and Asif to bowl no-balls to order with the collaboration of Butt.

The players lodged appeals against their suspensions, though Asif eventually withdrew his, and they were heard in Dubai in October. Beloff, the ICC code of conduct commissioner who chaired the hearing, rejected their appeals, following which the Pakistan board revoked their central contracts.