The ICC has charged Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir with offences under Article 2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel (Anti-Corruption Code) relating to alleged irregular behaviour during the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s, last summer. At present, these players have been informed officially about the offences they are alleged to have committed and have been provisionally suspended. This means they are immediately barred from participating in all cricket related activities until the case has been concluded.

Article 2 of the Anti-Corruption Code, outlines the offences that can be committed by any player or player support staff in their general conduct. The offences are corruption, betting, misuse of inside information and certain other general provisions. To the best of my understanding and in accordance with the media reports, the charge sheet or the exact offences that have been levelled against these players have not been made public.

According to Article 4, which concerns investigation and notice of charges, Article 4.6.1 explicitly gives the Anti-Corruption Code Unit’s General Manager to decide unilaterally the fate of any player on mere allegations of corruption. Till the pendency of the matter before the Anti-Corruption Code Tribunal, he can suspend the players on allegations that he deems serious enough that can bring the repute of the game into disrepute.

Interestingly, such unilateral powers granted to a single individual can result in injustice against certain individuals and the game itself. The allegations against the Pakistani players have been reported in none other than one of the most notorious tabloids of Britain. The same tabloid has also reported a crime of a similar nature committed by Indian star batsman Suresh Raina, but unfortunately not a single statement has been issued by the ICC. The rules of natural justice also demand that fair and equal treatment should be given to all individuals and such a bias can tremendously dent the impartiality of the ICC.