| Pak match-fixing scandal: Butt, Asif, Amir to face Pak Cricket Board today |
| Tuesday, 31 August 2010 21:35 |
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Pakistani captain Salman Butt and fast-pacers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir will face their cricket board's internal inquiry today at the Pakistan High Commission in London.
The three players were pulled out of practice in Taunton on Tuesday and asked to report to London to be questioned by Scotland Yard investigators for a second time in connection with the no-ball controversy that has erupted during the current England vs Pakistan series. They were in Taunton with the rest of the team ahead of a friendly match against Somerset. (In Pics: Pakistan's endless 'fixing' saga) | (Read: The Cricket scandal that has rocked Pakistan)
Team manager Yawar Saeed made the announcement in the team hotel on Tuesday, and said Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt and the country's High Commissioner will attend the meeting.
Along with wicket keeper Kamran Akmal, these three players were questioned over the weekend as well at their London hotel.
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Meanwhile, as the Pakistan Cricket Board prepares to grill the three tainted players, International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat will meet the chairman Ijaz Butt in London.
Ahead of his meeting with the PCB chief, a grim Lorgat said he was extremely disappointed by the turn of events. He added that there is a "zero tolerance" policy for corruption in cricket and any player involved in wrong-doing will be strictly punished.
"I am very, very disappointed. I guess... I'm at a loss for words to describe how not just myself but every loving cricketer and fan of this wonderful sport will be feeling right now."
Pressure is hence growing on the Pak cricket board to act fast. The formal call for interrogation came hours after Ijaz Butt said no Pakistani player would be dropped for the rest of the UK-Pakistan series till formal investigations are completed. "There is a case going on with the Scotland Yard. This is only an allegation. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken," said Butt. (Read: PCB won't drop players without proof)
The substantial charges of corruption against members of the Pakistani cricket team have become a national embarrassment and crisis. Several simultaneous investigations are in progress. The UK police are involved; Pakistan is sending members of its Federal Investigating Agency to England; and the International Cricket Council is also conducting an inquiry through its anti-Corruption Unit.
Lorgat had said on Tuesday that the governing body will take action against the players found guilty in the 'spot-fixing' scam before they take to the field in the current tour of England.
"We are working to gather evidence with the Police and the United Kingdom. We are very determined to bring to book any perpetrator or any player found to be corrupt."
Over the weekend, UK tabloid News of the World showed video footage of a middleman, Mazhar Majeed, accepting thousands of pounds from an undercover reporter. In return, he promises to have three no-balls bowled at certain times at the Lord's test match. The no-balls did play out exactly as promised by Majeed, who was arrested on Saturday and then released on bail on Sunday. (Watch: Did Pakistan fix these matches? | Pak players caught on tape)
What Majeed was offering was "spot-fixing" - where players are paid for details of play. Majeed described Butt as "the ring-leader" of the players involved with betting syndicates. He also bragged that a test match played by Pakistan against Australia in Sydney at the beginning of this year had been thrown by Pakistani cricketers. Referring to this expose, the Pakistani Cricket Board said it didn't want to go by newspaper reports. (Read: ICC's Haroon Lorgat on Pak controversy) | (Who is Mazhar Majeed?)
The ICC's report by its Anti-Corruption Unit is expected to be finalised within the next three days.
The ICC and the England cricket Board are keen for the two T20 matches, and five One Day matches to take place as scheduled. The England Cricket Board could lose 10-12 million pounds if the series is cancelled. Senior players for England have reportedly expressed their reluctance to continue with the series unless Butt, Asif and Amir are dropped. (Read: ICC wants tainted Pak players dropped)
A crucial point of the controversy could develop around 50,000 pounds (about 37 lakhs) allegedly found in Butt's room by Scotland Yard. Butt claims that the money was to pay for a trousseau for his sister. However, the cash was found in different currencies, including UAE dirhams. (With inputs from agencies)
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