New Delhi:
Pakistani captain Salman Butt and fast-pacers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir have been summoned to London for another round of questioning by Scotland Yard in connection with the no-ball controversy that has erupted during the current England vs Pakistan series. The three players were in Taunton with the rest of the team ahead of a friendly match against Somerset. (
In Pics: Pakistan's endless 'fixing' saga) | (
Read: The Cricket scandal that has rocked PakistanThe three players will travel to London on Wednesday to meet with Pakistan officials in the wake of match-fixing allegations.
Team manager Yawar Saeed made the announcement in the team hotel on Tuesday, and said Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt and the country's High Commissioner will attend the meeting.
Along with wicket keeper Kamran Akmal, these three players were questioned over the weekend as well at their London hotel.
The formal call for interrogation comes hours after the Chairman of the Pakistani Cricket Board, Ijaz Butt, said no Pakistani player would be dropped for the rest of the UK-Pakistan series till formal investigations are completed. "There is a case going on with the Scotland Yard. This is only an allegation. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken," said Butt. (
Read: PCB won't drop players without proof)
The substantial charges of corruption against members of the Pakistani cricket team have become a national embarrassment and crisis. Several simultaneous investigations are in progress. The UK police is involved; Pakistan is sending members of its Federal Investigating Agency to England; and the International Cricket Council is also conducting an inquiry through its anti-Corruption Unit.
Meanwhile, former coach of the Pakistan cricket team Geoff Lawson has spoken of the threats and dangers in cricket in Pakistan.
Lawson says, "A player who I had dropped from the team came and told me that he would be playing tomorrow... my response to him was no you are not... later that evening I was summoned to the team captain's room where I saw a sombre looking selector... he told me we must pick that player in the team, if not then there is a danger of his daughter being kidnapped... I was shocked... only after Pervez Musharaff, the then President of Pakistan intervened, was this matter resolved."
ICC for tough actionInternational Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Tuesday said the governing body will take action against the players found guilty in the 'spot-fixing' scam before they take to the field in the current tour of England.
"We are working to gather evidence with the Police and the United Kingdom. We are very determined to bring to book any perpetrator or any player found to be corrupt," Lorgat said.
Over the weekend, UK tabloid
News of the World showed video footage of a middleman, Mazhar Majeed, accepting thousands of pounds from an undercover reporter. In return, he promises to have three no-balls bowled at certain times at the Lord's test match. The no-balls did play out exactly as promised by Majeed, who was arrested on Saturday and then released on bail on Sunday. (
Watch: Did Pakistan fix these matches? |
Pak players caught on tape) What Majeed was offering was "spot-fixing" - where players are paid for details of play. Majeed described Butt as "the ring-leader" of the players involved with betting syndicates. He also bragged that a test match played by Pakistan against Australia in Sydney at the beginning of this year had been thrown by Pakistani cricketers. Referring to this expose, the Pakistani Cricket Board said it didn't want to go by newspaper reports. (
Read: ICC's Haroon Lorgat on Pak controversy) | (
Who is Mazhar Majeed?)
The ICC's report by its Anti-Corruption Unit is expected to be finalised within the next three days.
The ICC and the England cricket Board are keen for the two T20 matches, and five One Day matches to take place as scheduled. The England Cricket Board could lose 10-12 million pounds if the series is cancelled. Senior players for England have reportedly expressed their reluctance to continue with the series unless Butt, Asif and Amir are dropped. (
Read: ICC wants tainted Pak players dropped)
A crucial point of the controversy could develop around 50,000 pounds (about 37 lakhs) allegedly found in Butt's room by Scotland Yard. Butt claims that the money was to pay for a trousseau for his sister. However, the cash was found in different currencies, including UAE dirhams. (With inputs from agencies)