Pakistanplayers quizzed over 'fix'

Tom Palmer

POLICE investigating the alleged match-fixing scandal which has rocked cricket have questioned four members of the Pakistan team.

The allegations centre on the timing of no-balls delivered during the Fourth Test at Lord’s this weekend, which England won convincingly.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Undercover reporters from the News of the World allegedly paid a middleman 150,000 and claim that in return they were told exact details relating to play during the following day.

A no-ball occurs when a bowler oversteps the line behind which balls should be delivered and it is possible to bet on how such incidents occur, and when.

The paper said it was able to buy its way into a match-fixing ring by posing as Far Eastern businessmen. Mazhar Majeed, a 35-year-old agent, was arrested on Saturday night while Pakistan’s captain Salman Butt, bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif and wicket keeper Kamran Akmal were all questioned by officers from Scotland Yard.

Team manager Yawar Saeed also confirmed that police had taken three players’ mobile phones.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Saeed said cricket was not “institutionally corrupt” in Pakistan, and the claims were unproven.

A police spokesman said: “Following information received from the News of the World we have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.”

The news provoked angry scenes at Lord’s yesterday, with some fans demanding their money back.

David Lawrence, 44, said his six-year-old son’s first day at a match had been “overshadowed” by claims surrounding the Pakistani players.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking outside the gates before play started, the operations manager, from Kingston, south London, said: “It’s pretty horrendous. It undermines everything we are watching.

“My son, Matthew, has never been before. It’s doesn’t ruin it for us but does overshadow things. It leaves a bitter taste.”

In video footage released by the News of the World, Mr Majeed is apparently seen with a pile of money in front of him. His brother Azhar Majeed said the allegations were “rubbish”:

The pair are both agents and represent a number of the current Pakistan squad.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Former players were unanimous in their response to the allegations. Michael Vaughan, former England captain and Yorkshire batsman, wrote on social networking site twitter: “Anger is my thoughts at the moment. I don’t see how they can get out of this one, it’s just a great shame why this has to happen. Very sad.”

Former England fast bowler Angus Fraser said: “Everyone with a deep love or interest for the game will be absolutely appalled by these allegations.”

The scandal is just the latest in a long list of cheating allegations to have dogged the Pakistan cricket team. Questions were first raised in the mid 1990s when respected Australian internationals Shane Warne and Mark Waugh accused the then Pakistan captain Salim Malik of offering them bribes to perform poorly.

In May 2000 Malik and medium pace bowler Ata-ur Rehman were found guilty of match-fixing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Four years ago, the team was accused of ball tampering during a tour to England. Australian umpire Darrell Hair ruled Pakistan had forfeited the Test at The Oval by refusing to take the field in a protest over his ball-tampering ruling.

And in May this year the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit looked at the team’s poor performance after being heavily beaten by Australia during a tour of the country.

Following reports of infighting in the team, the Pakistani Cricket Board handed out bans and fines.

Comment: Page 10.