Pakistan cricketers accused of match fixing face trial in May

Former captain Salman Butt, 26, and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif, 28, and Mohammad Amir, 18, attended City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of cheating and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.

The cricketers were given unconditional bail and Mazhar Majeed, 35, of Oaks Road, Croydon, south London, was told to surrender his passport and not apply for international travel documents.

All four will appear at Southwark Crown Court on May 20.

Majeed is accused of accepting £150,000 to arrange for the players to bowl “no balls” during three dates in Pakistan’s Test series at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London last August.

All four were summoned to court where they made their first appearance sitting together in the dock with a translator for the teenager.

District Judge Howard Riddle heard the evidence came from an investigation by the News of the World’s undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood.