Alleged Pakistan betting scam trio maintain innocence
The three Pakistan players at the centre of the spot-fixing allegations that have shocked the cricket world have claimed they are innocent.
Fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif and Test captain Salman Butt have been implicated in an alleged spot-fixing scam (centring around three no-balls bowled in the Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s last week) reported in the News of the World this weekend.
The trio have been in London meeting Pakistan officials at the Pakistan high commission today while the remainder of the squad is in Taunton for a 50-over match against Somerset.
The Pakistan high commissioner, Wajid Shamsul http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990, emerged from this morning’s meetings to deliver the following statement at about midday today: “The three players have said they are extremely disturbed by what has happened, especially with regard to the alleged involvement in the crime. They have mentioned that they are entirely innocent and will defend themselves as such.
"They have said that because of the mental torture which has deeply affected them, they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches and have requested the Pakistan cricket board do not consider them for the remaining matches on the tour.
"They want to clear their name first and then play for Pakistan."
The fact the players in question will miss will miss the remainder of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s tour of England, comprised of two Twenty20 Internationals and five ODIs this September, was announced this morning.
Speaking in Taunton, Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said the Twenty20 squad to face England would remain as it currently stood, that is, comprised of 13 people, with three replacements to make the squad up to 16 for the ODIs.
Tags: