(REUTERS) – Pakistan players Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt must wait to learn if their suspensions over spot-fixing allegations will be lifted after an International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing was extended yesterday.
Officials from cricket’s governing body said the hearing would now conclude today.
“The hearings went on all day,” Butt’s lawyer Khalid Ranjha told reporters after the eight-hour session. “It will continue tomorrow. I can’t say anything more about the discussions today.”
Michael Beloff, who is presiding over the hearing and heads the ICC’s code of conduct commission, said: “We are making progress.”
However, he declined to elaborate.
The proceedings in Dubai are concerned only with the pair’s suspensions and whether the ICC followed the correct procedures in imposing them.
The innocence or guilt of the players, who have denied any wrongdoing, will be judged at an independent tribunal, the date of which has yet to be set.
Pace bowler Amir and opening batsman Butt were suspended by the ICC on Septrmber 2 after being charged with various offences under cricket’s anti-corruption code.
The bans followed allegations in a British newspaper of spot-fixing during the recent Test series against England.
Butt and Amir refused to speak to reporters yesterday.
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif was also suspended by the ICC over the same allegations but withdrew his appeal earlier this month in order to give his lawyers more time to prepare a detailed challenge.
Asif also denies any wrongdoing.
The British newspaper report alleged Amir and Asif deliberately bowled no-balls to order in a Test against England at Lord’s in August, with the involvement of Butt who was then Pakistan captain.
British police are also investigating the spot-fixing allegations against the trio.