High-level Pakistan backing for 'spot-fix' three

Test captain Salman Butt and opening bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer have been withdrawn from the 16-man squad following pressure from the England and Wales Cricket Board - although team manager Yawar Saeed said that the players had not been suspended.

And Wajid Shamsul Hasan maintained the innocence of the players - who stand accused following a "sting" by tabloid newspaper reporter of bowling no-balls to benefit gambling syndicates.

"The three players have said that they are extremely disturbed by what has happened in the past week, especially in regard of their alleged involvement in the crime," he said.

"They mentioned that they are entirely innocent in the whole episode and shall defend their innocence as such."

The trio were questioned by police earlier this week over the claims.

"Serious charges have been levelled against them, so they have to defend themselves," said Hasan.

"They are innocent until proven guilty. The investigations are on and we have to wait for the results."

He added: "I believe in their innocence."

Hasan said that the players had requested that the Pakistan Cricket Board withdraw them from the squad because "they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches."

Earlier Pakistan team manager Saeed had confirmed that the squad for two forthcoming Twenty20 matches would only include 13 players.

However he said that for the five one-day games planned against England over the next few weeks Pakistan would be requesting the right to draft in replacements to get the squad back up to 16.

The trio - including 19-year-old starlet Aamer - face lifetime bans if they are found guilty of the claims, which relate to the Test defeat to England at Lords last week that saw the visitors lose the series 3-1.

However former Pakistan captain Imran Khan weighed into the debate telling a US news broadcaster that he thought that a ban would be too harsh in the event the allegations were found to be true.

"For spot-fixing, bowling a no-ball they should suffer heavy on their pocket and be imposed a heavy fine than a life ban.

"It really should set an example and fine should be huge," he said.