Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir says he is confident of proving his innocence at the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption tribunal from Thursday.
An independent panel in Doha will judge if Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, committed spot-fixing offences in the fourth Test against England in August.
They were suspended in September amid charges of bowling deliberate no-balls.
“I’m quietly confident I can come out of it with my head high,” said 18-year-old Amir. “I have done nothing wrong.”
“I’ve played so many Tests but this is going to be my toughest and hardest,” added Amir, who has taken 51 wickets in 14 Test matches.
“Finally the time has arrived for me to prove my innocence. My lawyer has worked very hard on preparing this case.”
The International Cricket Council – whose chief executive officer Haroon Lorgat said he will be “disappointed” if the players are found not guilty – believes it has prepared a strong case which requires proper scrutiny.
If found guilty of breaking the ICC’s Code of Conduct, the trio could face a life ban.
They were provisionally suspended and charged by the ICC, and were also questioned by Scotland Yard detectives in London over the allegations when the case erupted in September last year.
Michael Beloff QC, who chaired the Code of Conduct Commission that rejected appeals from Butt and Amir in October, will chair the hearing along with fellow code of conduct commissioners Justice Albie Sachs of South
Butt criticised the ICC for victimising Pakistan cricketers when his appeal was rejected, while Asif – who did not appeal – has made no statement since the suspension.
Pakistan’s Twenty20 and one-day captain Shahid Afridi will join coach Waqar Younis as witnesses at the request of the ICC during the tribunal.
Amir left from Pakistan for Qatar on Tuesday while Test captain Butt and Asif left on different flights.
Speaking to the BBC in December, Lorgat said that the trio will be entitled to appeal any ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
