LONDON, England (AFP) — Cricket’s world governing body charged three Pakistani stars accused in a betting scam with anticorruption offences and provisionally suspended them yesterday, as the trio protested their innocence.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were barred from taking part in all cricket matches with immediate effect, although they can appeal the suspension.

Earlier, Pakistan’s ambassador to Britain said after meeting the trio that they had asked to miss the rest of the team’s tour of England because of the scandal, but said he believed their insistence that they were innocent.

The ICC said it had charged the three stars with offences under its anticorruption code and they had been provisionally suspended 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. While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant.

“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.”

Earlier, Butt, Aamer and Asif met with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt and Pakistan’s ambassador to Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, at the diplomat’s London office.