Pakistani Cricketers selling themselves

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/933112/Trio-arrested-by-Customs-officers...

31/08/2010
Three people have been arrested by Customs officials in connection with our match-fixing investigation into the Pakistan cricket team.

Two men and a woman, all from London, were questioned yesterday as part of the probe into money laundering, HM Revenue and Customs said. They have been released on bail.

HM Revenue and Customs said in a statement: "Three individuals were arrested on Sunday as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering.

"This includes two 35-year-olds - a male and a female - from the Croydon area, and a 49-year-old male from the Wembley area.

"These individuals were arrested, questioned and have been bailed pending further investigation."

The development came as it was announced that three Pakistan cricketers will meet officials from their country in London tomorrow.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and the country's high commissioner will talk to Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, their team manager announced today.

Yawar Saeed said the three players would be expected to return to the squad after the meeting.

We named the trio - along with wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal - in connection with a plot to deliberately bowl no-balls to order in the recently-concluded fourth Test at Lord's.

Our reporters posed as Far Eastern businessmen paying a middleman £150,000 to arrange the deal.

The cricketers were later questioned by Scotland Yard officers at their London hotel and Butt, Asif and Aamer had their mobile phones confiscated.

Mazhar Majeed, a cricket agent who also owns Croydon Athletic Football Club, was arrested, then released on police bail.

It is expected the four players will be asked to withdraw from the forthcoming Twenty20 internationals and one-day internationals, which begin on Sunday in Cardiff.

Last night Mr Butt stressed the allegations had not been proved and there were no immediate plans to suspend players.

The PCB, London's High Commission for Pakistan and the country's sports ministry in Islamabad were holding a conference call today to discuss the best way forward.

Haroon Lorgat, of the sport's ruling body the International Cricket Council (ICC), said he hoped there would be "some sort of a conclusion" to the investigation by the weekend.

The ICC's anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) is also investigating the claims and Mr Lorgat said "prompt and decisive action" would be taken against anyone who sought to harm the game's integrity.

"Make no mistake, once the process is complete, if any players are found to be guilty, the ICC will ensure that the appropriate punishment is handed out.

"We will not tolerate corruption in this great game."

Cricketers found guilty of cheating could be thrown out of the sport but Mr Lorgat said "a couple of individuals that might have got caught up in corrupt practices" should not bring the entire game to a standstill.

The team is due to play a friendly against Somerset on Thursday. Players refused to answer questions from reporters as they arrived at their hotel in Taunton.

And today media were refused access to Somerset's County Ground ahead of Pakistan's training session at the request of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the PCB.

Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) - the country's highest law enforcement agency - has sent three investigators to the UK.

Reports have suggested other matches may have been fixed and up to 80 international Tests could form part of the police investigation.

The claims are the latest in a string of match-fixing allegations to dog the Pakistan team since the 1990s.

Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who officially launched the FIA investigation, said: "The latest fixing allegations have bowed our heads in shame."

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin confirmed today they had both been approached by an Indian bookmaker in the past 16 months.

Watson was targeted during last year's Ashes tour of England, while a similar approach was made to Haddin during this year's World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

Speaking at a press conference in Sydney, both men said they reported the incidents to team management but insisted they were never specifically asked to alter the result of a match.

Watson said he was invited out for drinks by someone he did not know and reported the approach to team manager Steve Bernard and John Rhodes, who manages the ACSU in Australia and New Zealand.

"I think they checked footage of who the person was and it was someone that they were well aware of," he said.

"I heard that Brad Haddin had a similar conversation with an Indian guy and, after talking with him as well and describing the gentleman that was talking to us, it seemed like it was the same guy."

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• cricket scandal
• no ball
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• west indies

[iLLmatic2629]

i think ppl calling this video fake r bigger morons than the match fixers themselves. y the hell would mazhar majeed shoot a video like this to get himself arrested AFTER the match? lol.

[ashliski]

Who the fuck bets on stuff like that anyway? I like to bet and often view various cricket markets, never seen one for betting that a specific ball in a specific over would be a no-ball. Who goes into a bookies and say "the next test between Pakistan and England I would like to bet that the 6th ball of the 10th over is a no-ball" ??? That's ridiculous "Oh yes I'll have £10,000 on that then" (raised eyebrowed response)

[MrAbdurrehman1999]

i dont know why did these fuckers did this for lots of money? the real fucker is that mazher majeed

[theJawan1]

@iLLmatic2629 It was a Spy Camera, He dident kno!

[bigk368]

@iLLmatic2629 yeh, trollololol

[GreatHacker]

honestly asif no ball is normal one how could u doubt abt asif no ball?

[mittalsteel1]

He overstepped it by a long way just to ensure there is no doubt it was a no ball. Then the overacting starts. He made it TOO obvious.

[mittalsteel1]

He overstepped it by a long way just to ensure there is no doubt it was a no ball. Then the overacting starts. He made it TOO obvious.

[RidzRSBuddy]

@ashliski raised eyebrows = ^^

[jasim9099]

its bakwas



[sakibalmahmud]

@hifiveoverthere or they set him up. its an english man!!!!!!!!( the other guy)