New Delhi:
The substantial charges of corruption against members of the Pakistani cricket team have become a national embarrassment and crisis.
Pakistan's Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, is personally supervising an inquiry into allegations that players collaborated actively and frequently with middlemen on details of play - like when to bowl a no-ball - during the last Test at Lord's in the current England vs Pakistan series.
Members of Pakistan's Federal Investigating Agency are being sent to England to investigate the charges and work with the UK police.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board has ruled out suspending any of its players accused of spot-fixing until the police completes investigation and produces incriminating evidence.
(In Pics: Pakistan's endless 'fixing' saga) |
(Read: The Cricket scandal that has rocked Pakistan)"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 PCB chairman Ijaz Butt.
Scotland Yard has already met with four Pakistani cricketers, including captain Salman Butt, on Saturday night at their London hotel. That visit was prompted by an expose by tabloid News of the World in which a businessman named Mazhar Majeed took thousands of pounds from an undercover reporter in exchange for ensuring three no-balls at pre-determined points in the match. The expose also showed Majeed passing a jacket with 10,000 pounds in it to two Pakistani cricketers.
(Read: ICC's Haroon Lorgat on Pak controversy) |
(Who is Mazhar Majeed?)The robust evidence provided by that expose is being studied by the UK police. But now, media reports suggest that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been watching for months some of the Pakistani cricketers who feature in the current controversy. The Anti-Corruption Unit of the ICC, according to the UK newspaper The Guardian, has conducted an independent study into the alleged corruption among Pakistani cricketers. It will reportedly share this report with the Pakistani team of investigators deputed to England. Part of the report allegedly focuses on Pakistan's tour to Australia in January - the Sydney Test saw a surprise defeat for Pakistan after a series of dropped catches. (
Watch: Did Pakistan fix these matches? |
Pak players caught on tape)
The ICC has said that the rest of the England-Pakistan series - limited over matches- should continue as scheduled, but that the tainted Pakistani cricketers should be replaced. The England Cricket Board could lose 10-12 million pounds if the series is cancelled. Pakistan are set to play 2 T20s and 5 one-day matches.
(Read: ICC wants tainted Pak players dropped)Senior players for England have reportedly expressed their reluctance to continue with the series - they want Butt as well as Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamir - the fast-bowlers who delivered the no-balls at Lord's at the times set in advance - to be dropped by Pakistan.
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 PTI inputs)