Disgraced former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif should learn in April whether the Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned their bans for spot-fixing. A spokesman for the Swiss-based court told AFP on Thursday that the results of the two ex-players' hearings, held at the start of February, were scheduled to be issued in a month's time.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif is hopeful the Court of Arbitration for Sport will ovedrturn his ban for spot-fixing in one of the biggest cricket scandals in years, he said on Thursday. "Today was quite busy," Asif told AFP after the end of a day-long hearing behind closed doors at the CAS's Swiss headquarters. "They will give us their decision in the next three weeks." He added: "Hopefully I am going to win this case. I'd like to play cricket again." On Friday, Pakistan captain Salman Butt is due to attend a CAS appeal hearing on his own ban.

KARACHI, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The appeals of Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif against their bans for involvement in spot-fixing will be heard this week at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)in Geneva. Both players set off for Switzerland on Tuesday to attend the appeal hearing which will be chaired by conflict resolution professional Graeme Mew who is a practicing lawyer. "I have pleaded my innocence all along these last two years which have been terrible for me and my family," Butt told reporters.