Waqar had his doubts about trio

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan Twenty20 captain, and Waqar Younis, the coach, have raised doubts over the role of three suspended cricketers during the controversial Lord's Test against England in August.

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ISLAMABAD // Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan Twenty20 captain, and Waqar Younis, the coach, have raised doubts over the role of three suspended cricketers during the controversial Lord's Test against England in August.

Pakistan's leading English daily Dawn reported yesterday that Waqar - in his statement to the International Cricket Council's Code of Commission - said he was "surprised" with the no-ball of Mohammad Aamer and told the fast bowler during the break in Punjabi, "What the hell was that?"

Afridi told the commission when he met the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Aamer in the hotel room, "I thought they looked guilty."

The final hearing of the three players against the suspension will be heard by an anti-corruption tribunal at Doha next week.

The ICC suspended the trio in September after a British tabloid alleged that the fast bowlers Amir and Asif bowled predetermined no-balls during the Lord's Test and had links with Mazhar Majeed, a businessman.

Waqar told the commission that before Aamer could have responded to his question regarding the no-ball, Butt interrupted from across the dressing room, saying: "I told him to do it because the batsman was coming on the front foot. I told him to come forward and bowl him a bouncer."

Afridi said that the three players told him "they had done nothing wrong", to which he replied: "If you have done nothing wrong, there is no need to feel guilty."

Afridi also told the commission that Majeed had been staying in the team hotel during several series in the past and was also his promotional agent about seven or eight years ago.

Afridi, however, parted ways after Majeed misguided him about a promotional deal.