Flower admits spot-fixing story has taken gloss off T20 success

It is understood the England and Wales Cricket Board were especially concerned last week about the prospect then of their team facing Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Moha-mmad Aamer in the tourists' limited-overs ranks.

That eventuality was avoided when the Pakistan Cricket Board announced the three players at the centre of 'spot-fixing' claims during the Lord's Test would take no part in two NatWest Twenty20s in Cardiff or the five one-day internationals still to come.

The International Cricket Council subsequently brought charges against the three under the anti-corruption code and suspended them from all cricket while the case continues.

That allowed England to take on, and beat, Pakistan twice at the SWALEC Stadium.

The crisis which dogged cricket throughout last week is refusing to pass easily, though, thanks to fresh allegations over the last few days.

But Flower said: "The ECB took a very strong stance with the Pakistan board and the ICC over the allegations surrounding the first three players, so I trust the ECB's judgment on any further stance they might think is necessary."

Flower was delighted with his Twenty20 world champion team's return to the shortest format in Wales, but admits the 'spot-fixing' controversy hadtaken the gloss off that success.

"There's inevitably a bit of a gloomy atmosphere at the moment and with the sullying of cricket's name and reputation, that's understandable," he added. "It's a pity, because we are playing some outstanding cricket."

The NatWest Series begins tomorrow in Durham.