Salman Butt appeals against ICC suspension

Salman Butt, one of the three Pakistan players suspended by the ICC following the News of the World spot-fixing expose, has appealed against the provisional decision.

An ICC spokesperson confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the appeal was filed on Tuesday evening. The two other players alleged to be involved in bowling deliberate, pre-planned no-balls during Pakistan's fourth Test at Lord's against England , fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, have not yet filed their appeals.

The three players were served notices on September 2 after the ICC felt they had "a case to answer" and they initially had two weeks to respond. The players sent in replies - but not formal appeals - on September 14 asking for extra time in filing their appeals. Their request was granted and the new deadline was set for October 15.

"Late yesterday Salman Butt through his attorney filed his appeal against provisional suspension," confirmed Haroon Lorgat, ICC's chief executive. "In fact Michael Beloff will consider it and we are in the process of sending it. We will try to be as expeditious and we will try to do it best as quickly as possible. The other two players have filed no appeals."

As per the ICC's anti-corruption code of conduct for provisional suspensions, a provisional hearing will now take place where "it shall be the burden of the ACSU's general manager to establish: (a) that there is a strong, arguable case against the player on the charge(s) that have been made against him; and (b) that, in such circumstances, the integrity of the sport could be seriously undermined if a provisional suspension was not imposed against him."

In other words, the provisional hearing will only focus on the matter of the suspensions of the player and whether or not they should remain until a full hearing. That, according to the code, must be heard within three months of the provisional suspensions being imposed on the players.