ICC chief refutes 'conspiracy' claim as Pakistan trio are suspended

On Thursday night The ICC took the decision to suspend captain Salman Butt and seamers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer after charging them with "various offences" under the governing body's code of conduct.

Pakistan high commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan accused the ICC of "playing to the public gallery" by suspending the trio for their alleged involvement in a plot to deliberately bowl three no-balls in the fourth Test against England at Lord's.

The three players were questioned by police in a criminal investigation which was launched after claims made in the News of the World that they were part of a spot-fixing scam aimed at defrauding illegal bookmakers.

Hasan claimed that the ICC had "no authority to intervene" and added that he thought there was a "conspiracy" growing against a country that was stripped of its right to co-host the 2011 World Cup and has to play its "home" games abroad due to security fears.

But Lorgat said: "This particular incident with the three players is unrelated to the challenge that we've got in keeping Pakistan involved as a full member of the International Cricket Council.

"So I wouldn't want to link the two, and I certainly wouldn't subscribe to the view that there is some sort of conspiracy around Pakistan cricket."

Sir Ronnie Flanagan, chairman of the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU), meanwhile, said at the press conference that the players had been suspended because they had "a really arguable case to answer".

At the Pakistan high commission in London, the cricketers needed a police escort to enter the building to hold talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and Hasan, who emerged to reveal that the players had protested their innocence to him.

And Lorgat did not underplay tThe magnitude of the crisis, describing the allegations as equal in seriousness to those faced by former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, who was convicted of accepting bribes to throw matches in 2000.Lorgat promised that the ICC would act "decisively" and would not "tolerate any sort of corruption".

Northern Ireland's former chief constable Flanagan added: "At the worst end of the scale, if guilt is found, then the punishment can range right up to a life ban from the game.

He went on to warn that it would take some time before any investigation is concluded.

"I am certain that this will not take weeks," he added.

Flanagan also said that he was considering adding to the ranks of the ACSU in a bid to stamp out any other potential corruption in the game.

He did, however, claim that the problem of 'spot-fixing' is not widespread within the sport.

"I do not see this as the tip of the iceberg," he continued.

Flanagan also denied that the fact that Pakistan's players receive less money than their international counterparts should be regarded as an excuse for corrupt activity should they be found guilty. He said: "Whatever they are paid or whatever they are not paid is absolutely no excuse for criminal or corrupt behaviour."