Monday, August 30, 2010

Pakistan tour will continue - ICC

Pakistan's Test captain Salman Butt
Test captain Salman Butt is one of four players in the spotlight

International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar says Pakistan's tour of England will continue despite spot-fixing claims against some players.

"Police have not yet completed their investigation," said Pawar.

"It is the desire of the ICC and the cricket boards of England and Pakistan that the game should continue."

There is no indication the four players questioned - Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal - are facing suspension at this stage.

Test captain Butt, fast bowlers Amir and Asif and wicketkeeper Akmal were questioned by police at the team's hotel in London on Sunday following a report that some Pakistan players had been bribed to fix incidents during the fourth Test against England at Lord's.

The allegations centred on three no-balls from Amir and Asif which the News of the World newspaper said had been bowled on purpose at pre-determined times to facilitate betting coups after a "middle man" accepted £150,000 in cash from an undercover reporter.

Pakistan's team manager Yawar Saeed: "No allegations are true til they are proved"

The man identified as the alleged go-between, cricket agent Mazhar Majeed, 35, has been released on police bail after being arrested on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

Meanwhile, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat revealed investigators from its anti-corruption and security unit were already in the UK conducting enquiries of their own as well as "assisting London's Metropolitan Police with their criminal investigation. "

He added: "If any players are found to be guilty, the ICC will ensure that the appropriate punishment is handed out. We will not tolerate corruption in this great game."

On Monday, the Pakistan team coach left London for Taunton ahead of a match against Somerset on Thursday. Pakistan are then due to continue their tour with two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals against England in September.

Test captain Butt - the one-day side is led by Shahid Afridi - boarded the coach with Amir, Asif and Akmal, plus the rest of his team-mates, despite calls from a number of quarters for the quartet to be suspended from the final part of the tour pending investigations.

There were audible, but isolated, shouts of abuse from at least one member of the public after a crowd gathered to watch the players leave London.

If, unfortunately, there is a truth then ruthless actions will be taken

ICC president Sharad Pawar

Somerset chief executive Richard Gould said he expected the team to receive a "warm welcome" on Thursday.

He added: "They have a net session booked in for Wednesday and if they want anything else we will be happy to provide it. This game has been looked forward to by many of our supporters and members and we think they will give the Pakistan team a warm welcome."

Pawar said the ACSU had been asked to submit a report in the next couple of days.

He added: "The PCB president himself has inquired and prepared a confidential report which he sent to the president and prime minister of Pakistan. He is expecting some guidance from the country's leadership.

"We at the ICC are waiting for definite information from the PCB and our own anti-corruption unit. We hope to get something in the next two to three days and that information will lead to appropriate action, if required."

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