Former Pakistan cricketers and officials voiced mixed reactions yesterday after the International Cricket Council rejected the appeals of Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir against suspensions over spot-fixing claims.

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir said be believed the ICC was guilty of discrimination. "Pakistani players have been targeted by the ICC," Qadir said. "India's Suresh Raina has also been accused of being in contact with bookmakers, but that case was not taken up." The ICC code of conduct commissioner heard appeals over the weekend before announcing the verdict.

Expected

Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal said: "It may be disappointing, but it was expected because the ICC upholding the suspension proves that they have enough evidence against the players to levy those sanctions," Iqbal told AFP.

"Suspension is not a punishment. The ICC suspended the players because Pakistan cricket authorities did not withdraw them after the allegations were levelled, so now the players have a case to answer before the commission," he said. Salman, Amir and Mohammad Asif were suspended in September after claims of spot-fixing during the tour of England.