Pakistan cricketers square up amid fresh betting claims
CARDIFF — Pakistan's cricket team prepared to face England in a one-day match Sunday under the shadow of fresh claims about an alleged betting scam and reports that a fourth player…
CARDIFF — Pakistan's cricket team prepared to face England in a one-day match Sunday under the shadow of fresh claims about an alleged betting scam and reports that a fourth player was being investigated.The News of the World said the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has already charged three Pakistan stars with corruption, was now investigating a fourth player, although the tabloid did not name him "for legal reasons".The News of the World's report last Sunday into the fixing allegations caused a major scandal and led the ICC to charge Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif under its anti-corruption code.The ICC refused to comment on the newspaper's latest claims Sunday, including that the accused trio were facing 23 charges between them and that a fourth unnamed player was under the spotlight.At the team's hotel in Cardiff late Saturday, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis also refused to discuss the new revelations. However, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Giles Clarke, said the first Twenty20 match between England and Pakistan in Cardiff Sunday would still go ahead. Asked if it would be called off, he said: "No."The allegations all relate to the recent fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's, which ended with an England victory, in which the News of the World said deliberate no-balls had been bowled.Aamer, at 18 one of cricket's hottest talents, Asif, 27, and Butt, 25, were questioned by police about the claims on Friday but were released without charge, their lawyer said. They have denied any wrongdoing.The News of the World on Sunday claimed its allegations had been confirmed by Pakistan batsman Yasir Hameed."They were doing it (fixing) in almost every match. God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages," Hameed reportedly told an undercover reporter in a bar in the central English city of Nottingham."It makes me angry because I?m playing my best and they are trying to lose."Speaking to AFP late Satur
last modification 2010-09-05 05:45:26
Add comment