London , England ( CNN ) -- Three Pakistani cricket players at the center of a gambling scandal have been charged with `` various offenses '' by the sport 's governing body , the International Cricket Council announced Thursday . Team captain Salman Butt , Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have all said they were innocent but have been provisionally suspended pending a decision on the charges , the council said . `` We will not tolerate corruption in cricket -- simple as that , '' said the council 's chief executive , Haroon Lorgat . `` We must be decisive with such matters and if proven , these offenses carry serious penalties up to a life ban . '' A fine could also be imposed as part of the punishment . Lorgat cautioned that the players ' guilt has not been proven . `` That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide , '' he said . Meanwhile , Pakistani High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hassan told reporters after meeting with the players that he believes their claims of innocence . `` They have not been proven guilty , '' Hassan told a throng of reporters . `` And until you are proven guilty , you are innocent . '' A police investigation into the alleged scandal is continuing , but no further meeting with police or questioning of the men is scheduled , he said . Hassan did , however , vow to take legal action to defend the players if necessary . `` I think we will go to the court of law to defend them , '' he said . Eighteen-year-old Amir is the youngest-ever bowler to reach 50 Test wickets . He took six wickets -- considered an impressive feat -- against England in the Test on which the betting allegations are centered . For such an exciting prospect , already hugely popular in his homeland , to be tarnished by a scandal like this has depressed many cricket fans in Pakistan . Asif has already courted controversy in his career . He has tested positive for steroids twice , and soon after the second offense , he was caught with a recreational drug in his wallet at the Dubai airport and was kept in detention for three weeks . The betting allegations emerged Sunday in the British tabloid News of the World , which reported that two Pakistan players deliberately bowled `` no balls , '' or fouls , during their Test series with England in London last week . It said the alleged ringleader made 150,000 pounds ( $ 232,800 ) in the scam . England won the match at Lord 's Cricket Ground . It ended Sunday afternoon , after the scandal broke . Hassan said Thursday it is possible the players are the victims of a setup , saying they have been `` maligned by the media '' and are the victims of `` character assassination by the media . '' `` You have to investigate to find out whether they 've been set up or not , '' he said . Referring to the News of the World -- a newspaper known for its sensational headlines -- he added , `` What is the reputation of those people who have brought us this story ? '' Team manager Yawar Saeed said London 's Metropolitan Police have already questioned him and the three players . Several people have been arrested in connection with the case . The Met Police arrested a 35-year-old man late Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers and released him on bail Sunday , and customs officials arrested three people Sunday on suspicion of money laundering . Pakistan 's President Asif Ali Zardari also ordered an investigation into the scandal , his spokesman said Sunday . CNN 's Chris Murphy and Don Riddell contributed to this report .
NEW : Players have been suspended pending a decision . The players say they are innocent . The Pakistani high commissioner says he believes they are innocent . Charges follow allegations that players threw a game on Sunday .