Pakistan trio charged by the ICC over betting scam

The three Pakistani players at the centre of the betting scandal that has shocked cricket have been charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and suspended, amid reports that cash used in the News of the World sting operation was found in Salman Butt's luggage.

Butt, the team captain, and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir (pictured above) will be interviewed by police investigating allegations that they bowled no-balls at pre-arranged times during a Test against England in return for cash. And according to the Daily Mail police will ask Butt how marked notes used by the News of the World were later discovered during searches of his hotel room and his locker at Lord's.

All three players have been suspended from playing by the ICC - ths sport's governing body - and charged under its anti-corruption code.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat announced the development outside the hotel in London where all three men are staying, while their team-mates continue with the tour of England.

"We will not tolerate corruption in cricket – simple as that," he said. "We must be decisive with such matters and, if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban."

However, he said the ban was provisional and stressed the need to remain impartial. "It is important that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide."

Earlier on Thursday Pakistan's high commissioner in the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, waded into the row, claiming that the players had been set up and framed by the newspaper. He questioned the authenticity of the video released by the News of the World, which shows British-born entrepreneur Mazhar Majeed, the alleged mastermind of the betting scam, taking £150,000 in cash from an undercover reporter in return for information about when no-balls would be bowled.

"The video wasn't timed or dated. It could have been filmed before or after the match," said Hasan. The News of the World said the suggestion the video was fake was "ludicrous".

On the pitch on Thursday, Pakistan beat Somerset by eight runs in a tight 50-over game in front of a sparse crowd in Taunton. They are due to play England in a Twenty20 match on Sunday. ·