ICC upholds Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir's suspensions

The International Cricket Council has upheld the provisional suspensions of the Pakistan pair Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir after the independent Code of Conduct Commission chaired by Michael Beloff QC dismissed their appeals in Doha this morning.

Salman Butt, right, and Mohammad Amir, centre, arrive at their hearing in Dubai

"I have decided to dismiss the application … all three players accordingly are still for the time being unable to participate in cricketing activities," Beloff said.
The Test captain Butt and bowler Amir were suspended by the ICC along with Mohammad Asif pending the results of an investigation into spot-fixing allegations.
The claims against the trio – initially raised by a Sunday newspaper on Pakistan's summer tour of England – concerned the alleged bowling of no balls to order under the direction of Butt.
Asif had initially joined his team-mates in confirming his intention to appeal against his suspension but withdrew from the process earlier this month.
Butt, Asif and Amir must now await the results of the full ICC investigation and, if found guilty, would face the prospect of life bans.
The Pakistan coach, Waqar Younis, said the suspensions have hit his side hard, with the trio being sorely missed in the series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan lost the Twenty20 series 2-0 and trail 1-0 in the five-match one-day series.
"I must say that Pakistan cricket is going through a serious tough time," Waqar said after his team's eight-wicket defeat against South Africa on Friday.
"We lost a few players after the England tour and it's been a little tough at the moment and I think that is one big reason that we are struggling. I sincerely hope that the players are cleared and are available to play for Pakistan because they are key players."