Spot-fixing case: Afridi, Waqar, Najam “favoured” suspended Pak trio, says Butt’s father

PUNE - The statements given by Pakistan ODI skipper Shahid Afridi, coach Waqar Younis and the then former security manager, Major (retd) Khawaja Najam Javed, to the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission are ‘not in the opposition’ of the suspended trio, Salman Butt’s father Zulfiqar Ali Butt has claimed.

Afridi, Waqar and Najam recorded their statements for the ongoing spot-fixing case in Doha against Butt, Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif, who have been charged by the ICC with various offences relating to “alleged irregular behaviour during, and in relation to, the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s.”

“The information I gathered from Doha hearing suggests that the three Pakistanis “favoured” the suspended players,” The Nation quoted Zulfiqar, as saying.

Interestingly, their statements, which were earlier recorded by the ICC’s Code of Conduct Commission and were leaked to the media, cast serious doubts on the suspended trio.

In their startling eye witness accounts, the three officials had confirmed ‘bookie’ Mazhar Majeed’s frequent visits to the team hotel to meet the suspect players, and that he continued meeting them in and outside the hotel despite several warnings from the then security manager Najam.

Zulfiqar also said that Butt had shared with Aamir and Asif the money received for appearing in an ice-cream parlour opening in England.

“The appearance money for the opening of the ice-cream parlour in England was also shared by M Aamir and M Asif,” he claimed.

“My son got pounds 2500, i.e. the 50 % as against the agreed sum of pounds 5,000 and the two bowlers were paid pounds 1,500 each, also the 50 % of the agreed amount”, he added

This ice-cream parlour, named as “Afters” (to suggest the desert items to be savoured after dinner), is located near Tooting Bec Station in London. (ANI)