London:
Islamabad's ambassador to London, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, said on Friday that cricket's world governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), had "no business" to suspend the Pakistan players engulfed in an alleged betting scam. (See: Pak match-fixing scandal in pics)
Hasan also said the ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, was "very sympathetic and supportive" when the two had met at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Thursday, but during the meeting, Hasan said, Lorgat had received a call from ICC president Sharad Pawar and the action came soon after.
He told BBC radio that the ICC was trying to "play to the public gallery" by provisionally suspending Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. (Video special: Match-fixing storm)
High Commissioner Hasan spoke to the trio on Thursday and insisted afterwards that they were innocent of "spot-fixing", and said he thought they had been set up by a British newspaper sting. (Read: What is spot-fixing?)
"The players have decided to take no further part in the Pakistan squad's tour of England," he had said.
Hasan said on Friday that that should have been enough and there was no need for the ICC to suspend them.
He also suggested that shadowy links to Indian bookmakers had a part to play in the affair. (Watch: Indian bookies framed our players, says Hasan)
The players have "already said they will not play this series" and simply "want to defend their honour, they want to prove themselves innocent," Hasan said.
"The ICC had no business to take this action... the ICC just try to play to the public gallery."
The News of the World newspaper had alleged that it paid Mazhar Majeed, an agent for several Pakistan players, 150,000 pounds (185,000 euros, 230,000 dollars) in return for advance knowledge of pre-arranged no-balls -- normally accidental -- which could then be bet upon.
He was arrested and then bailed by British police.
Hasan added, "Indian bookies were involved in it and this man Majeed... he was working for the Indian Bombay bookies."
Hasan also said the ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, was "very sympathetic and supportive" when the two had met at the Pakistan High Commission in London on Thursday, but during the meeting, Hasan said, Lorgat had received a call from ICC president Sharad Pawar and the action came soon after.
He told BBC radio that the ICC was trying to "play to the public gallery" by provisionally suspending Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. (Video special: Match-fixing storm)
High Commissioner Hasan spoke to the trio on Thursday and insisted afterwards that they were innocent of "spot-fixing", and said he thought they had been set up by a British newspaper sting. (Read: What is spot-fixing?)
"The players have decided to take no further part in the Pakistan squad's tour of England," he had said.
Hasan said on Friday that that should have been enough and there was no need for the ICC to suspend them.
He also suggested that shadowy links to Indian bookmakers had a part to play in the affair. (Watch: Indian bookies framed our players, says Hasan)
The players have "already said they will not play this series" and simply "want to defend their honour, they want to prove themselves innocent," Hasan said.
"The ICC had no business to take this action... the ICC just try to play to the public gallery."
The News of the World newspaper had alleged that it paid Mazhar Majeed, an agent for several Pakistan players, 150,000 pounds (185,000 euros, 230,000 dollars) in return for advance knowledge of pre-arranged no-balls -- normally accidental -- which could then be bet upon.
He was arrested and then bailed by British police.
Hasan added, "Indian bookies were involved in it and this man Majeed... he was working for the Indian Bombay bookies."
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