03/09/2010

Pakistan Cricketers Charged By ICC

The three Pakistan cricketers at the centre of match-fixing allegations have been suspended and charged by the sport's governing body.

The International Cricket Council confirmed that Test captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been accused of various anti-corruption charges which relate to "alleged irregular behaviour" during the fourth Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's last week.

The trio have 14 days to appeal the decision.

On Friday afternoon it was reported that Amir had been questioned under caution by police over the allegations. Asif and Butt are to be questioned next.

The ICC has not yet spoken to the players - they had reportedly agreed to wait until they were given permission by the Metropolitan Police.

The players were accused of involvement in spot-betting, following a report in last week's News of the World.

The report claimed that the two bowlers had agreed to bowl no balls - foul deliveries - during the fourth Test.

Three people, including cricket agent Mazhar Majeed, were arrested as part of an HM Revenue & Customs investigation into money-laundering in connection with the case, but have now been released on bail.

(KMcA/GK)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

31 August 2010
Pakistan Cricketers Face Punishment If Guilty
The Pakistan cricketers at the centre of a match-fixing row face "prompt and decisive action" if they are found guilty, the sport's ruling body said. The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit said that they would "not tolerate corruption in this great game" and they are preparing a report, while police also investigate the claims.
02 September 2010
Pakistan's Match-Fixing Row Players Dropped From Tour
The three Pakistan cricketers at the centre of a match-fixing row have been dropped from the rest of the team's England tour, according to reports. Although the players have not been suspended, manager Yawar Saeed told reporters that he decided to leave them out of the squad.
20 March 2015
Police Find Woman And Children In Refrigerated Lorry
Police in Bristol have discovered a woman and two children in the back of a refrigerated lorry. Avon and Somerset Police said the driver of the lorry reported hearing voices from inside the lorry. Police believe the woman and children were in the back of the lorry for two days before being discovered.
28 June 2007
Body find closes M1 near Luton
A stretch of the M1 in Bedfordshire has been closed off after a woman's body was found. Both south and northbound carriages of the motorway have been closed between junctions 10 and 11 near Luton as the scene is investigated. It is understood that a pedestrian may have been struck by traffic.
09 February 2005
Treasury email reveals ERM information to BBC
The BBC reported today that it has received documents relating to the 1992 Exchange Rate Mechanism debacle that resulted in a failed attempt by the then Prime Minister John Major and Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont to keep Britain within ERM limits.