LONDON: Cricket’s world governing body charged three Pakistan stars with anti-corruption offences and provisionally suspended them, as the trio protested their innocence in an alleged betting scam.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced late on Thursday that Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were barred from playing any further matches until their cases were resolved.

Within hours, however, the ICC announced it had charged the three stars with “various offences” under its anti-corruption code and had suspended them with immediate effect pending a decision on those charges.

“We will not tolerate corruption in cricket — simple as that,” said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

“We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban.

“The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport’s integrity.”

The players have 14 days to request a tribunal hearing at which they can challenge the charges, and Lorgat stressed: “It is important, however, that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. “

That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide.”

British police questioned Pakistan bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif on Friday.

Aamer and Asif arrived for questioning at a police station near the “home of cricket”, Lord’s in north London, and detectives are also expected to quiz Test captain Salman Butt on Friday.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said he was “not happy” about the situation but was trying to focus on his duties ahead of the forthcoming two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day games against England.

“I’m not happy about it, naturally”, he said, while insisting that the tour would go ahead. Pakistan later announced they had added Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Irfan to their squad.