LONDON: The probe into allegations that Pakistan cricketers accepted bribes for spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test against England gathered pace
on Friday as a second evidence file was passed to prosecutors.
Scotland Yard said evidence that there was a conspiracy to defraud bookmakers will be considered by the Crown Prosecution Service. Detectives interviewed four players under caution and arrested businessman Mazhar Majeed as part of the inquiry.
Majeed is accused of accepting 150,000 pounds (243,735 dollars) to fix the actions of several players during the Lord’s Test.
Pakistan’s tour to England was overshadowed by the newspaper allegations of a betting scam that saw no-balls deliberately bowled in the fourth Test against England in August.
The claims, published in the News of the World, led to the suspension of Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif by the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The trio, together with Wahab Riaz – who was not suspended, were all being interviewed by police in connection with the allegations, although they deny any wrong-doing.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “The Metropolitan Police has today delivered a second file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in connection with the investigation of alleged offences in relation to the fourth Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground on 26 August.
The file will now be subject to CPS consideration.” The ICC’s code of conduct commission rejected appeals by Butt and Aamer against their suspensions last Sunday, while Asif had withdrawn his appeal. The next stage will be a hearing by the anti-corruption tribunal into details of the fixing case.
