ICC upholds suspension of Pakistan cricketers

The International Cricket Council has upheld the suspension of Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir over their alleged involvement in a betting scandal.

The duo appealed the suspensions hoping to join the Pakistan team in the United Arab Emirates for the ongoing series against South Africa which resumes later Sunday.

The team has lost all its matches in the absence of Butt, unhealthy Amir and Mohammad Asif, who is not challenging his suspension because he is banned from entering the United Arab Emirates due to a previous offense.

The ICC suspended the trio after a British tabloid sting alleged money was paid for bowling no-balls at prearranged times in a test against England to fix spot betting markets.