Match fixing rocks cricket, Pakistani players quizzed (Roudup)

LONDON - The ghost of match fixing has returned to haunt world cricket with British tabloid The News of the World revealing that Pakistani cricketers were allegedly involved in deliberately underperforming in the Lord’s Test that England won by an innings to wrap up the series 3-1 here Sunday.

Based on a sting operation conducted by The News of the World, the Metropolitan Police arrested London-based property tycoon Mazhar Majeed, who allegedly lured Pakistani fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to deliver three blatant no-balls at the agreed moment of the game by the daily’s undercover reporter. Reports also suggested that Pakistan captain Salman Butt and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were also involved.

Video evidence proved that Mazhar received some 150,000 pounds from the tabloid and it prompted the Metropolitan Police to quiz three Pakistan cricketers over claims they were involved in a betting scam.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) in a statement said that its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is fully assisting the investigation.

“No players nor team officials have been arrested in relation to this incident. As this is now subject to a police investigation neither ICC, ECB, PCB nor the ground authority, the MCC, will make any further comment,” the ICC said in a statement.

Pakistan’s team manager Yawar Saeed, while admitting that three players were quizzed, said that no allegations are true til they are proved.

“Police had taken three players’ mobile phones. Cricket was not institutionally corrupt in Pakistan and the claims were unproven,” said Saeed.

Butt, who is facing charges of match fixing, said he is not going to step down.

In the post match press conference, Butt was asked whether Pakistan deliberately lost the Sydney Test against Australia earlier this year, but he did not answer.

Saeed deliberately changed the topic and when the captain was asked whether he was going to resign, Butt asked: “Why?”

“We won a Test against Australia after 15 years, and against England. These are just allegations, anyone can say anything about anyone, that doesn’t make them true,” Salman maintained.

When asked if the ODI series will take place, Yawar said: “As far as I am concerned, it is on.”

Yawar also came out in defence of Amir, saying: “Mohammad Amir is a young bowler who has done very well in his career. He is disappointed to have been involved in these allegations.”

Salman said that his team has given its best.

“Definitely we have given our best, it’s just that the conditions have been difficult for the batsmen. Every person has given 100 percent, but not every time can you achieve what you want,” he said.

England Test captain Andrew Strauss doubts if the series of five ODIs and two Twenty20s can be played amidst charges of match-fixing surrounding the Pakistan team.

Both teams took field Sunday with the spectre of match-fixing looming large and Strauss felt it was a shame that the 3-1 series win for England had to end amidst charges of deliberate underperformance by the Pakistan team.

The series of five ODIs and two Twenty20s was to get underway in Cardiff Sep 5, but Strauss said that he and his team needed to come to terms with the current issues before turning their attention to the rest of the tour.

“The game of cricket was in the news not just for the wrong reasons but the worst ones. At the moment the gloss is obviously taken off the win but in time we will remember the good things we’ve done. I don’t know if the one-day series can go ahead now but I think it’s important we let the dust settle and let the ICC, PCB and ECB need to sit down and work out what is best to do,” said Strauss.

“Pretty tough day. We turned up knowing all we needed to do was to get the job done and finish things off but the atmosphere was very sombre out there.”

When asked if he was willing to play against a team that has been accused of spot-fixing, Strauss said: “It’s just so hard to say with incomplete information at this stage. From our point of view we are going to sit down and have a couple of drinks and celebrate the fact that we won the series tonight. And then in the next few days I’m sure a lot of things will become a lot clearer.”

Strauss said it is important to let the dust settle.

“They are explosive allegations that have affected the mood of the players. We are going to have to sit down and talk about it. There are also going to be lots of talks between the ICC (International Cricket Council), the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board). I wouldn’t like to pre-judge it.”