‘Banned’ Butt was under investigation for suspected 2010 T20 WC ’spot-fixing’ affair
By ANIThursday, February 10, 2011
LONDON - Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who has been banned for 10 years for his involvement in a spot-fixing scam, was also investigated by the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s anti-corruption unit in connection with “suspicious” phone calls and texts from London-based bookmaker Mazhar Majeed during the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.
According to the BBC, the communications relate to 10 May, when Pakistan were in St. Lucia and defeated South Africa by 11 runs in a group match.
However a source close to Butt has claimed that the communications with Majeed in St. Lucia were not evidence of any wrongdoing.
“The only allegations that have been put to Butt are in relation to the Tests in August and September. There is no other wrongdoing and the ICC has not charged him with anything in relation to this,” the source told the BBC.
Previous suspicion surrounding the Pakistan team was focused on their semi-final against Australia, where they lost in the final over thanks to Michael Hussey hitting three sixes in four balls.
An ICC anti-corruption tribunal, chaired by Michael Beloff, had found Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif guilty of charges relating to spot-fixing in the Lord’s Test match between England and Pakistan played in August last year.
In addition, Butt was also found guilty of breaching the ICC anti-corruption code by failing to report an approach made to him by British-based bookmaker Mazhar Majeed to engage in corrupt activity during The Oval Test match earlier in the same month.
The 26-year-old was given a 10-year ban from any involvement in cricketing activities, five years of which were suspended on condition that, throughout that period, he commits no further breach of the code and that he participates, under the auspices of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a programme of anti-orruption education. (ANI)
