Police quiz Pakistan trio

LONDON, (Reuters) – Pakistan captain Salman Butt and  pace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were questioned by  the London Metropolitan police yesterday following their  indefinite suspension from all cricket.

The trio face possible life bans after the International  Cricket Council (ICC) charged them under its anti-corruption code on Thursday after an investigation into alleged spot-fixing.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket  Board and the players, lawyer Elizabeth Robertson said the three  had voluntarily attended Kilburn police station to answer  questions about allegations in The News of the World newspaper.

The Sunday tabloid said they had been involved in  pre-arranged no-balls which were bowled by Amir and Asif in the  fourth test against England at Lord’s.

“At no time were they placed under arrest. They were free to  leave at any time and they have answered all of the questions  that were put to them and have been released without charge or  conditions,” the statement said.

“They will not be making any further comment at this time,  and we ask that you respect their wishes. Indeed it would not be  appropriate for them to make any further comment while there is  a police investigation going on.”

In a statement released later yesterday, the Pakistan High  Commissioner in London Wajid Shamsul Hasan said he had heard  that the ICC had taken Amir’s name off its player of the year  list.

“What happened to the principle of ‘innocent until proven  guilty’?” he asked.

“After the shocking, arbitrary and high-handed suspension of  the three Pakistani cricketers through the ICC’s uncalled for  action, nothing is coming to me as a surprise.

“It is also strange that as per the ICC official’s account,  the police had shared evidence with ICC while ICC conducted its  own investigations. This, in our view, constitutes a breach of  trust.”   At a news conference earlier at Lord’s, ICC chief executive  Haroon Lorgat said there was no truth in claims that there was a  conspiracy against Pakistan cricket.

“On the contrary, we are seeking to ensure that Pakistan  continue to play international cricket, albeit at neutral  venues,” he said.

Pakistan have been forced to play all their internationals  abroad after an armed attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore  in March last year.

ICC QUIZ ACTRESS
A former girlfriend of Asif told Reuters yesterday that she  had been questioned by ICC officials in Lahore this week as part  of the investigation.

Veena Malik, an actress and model who broke up with Asiflier  this year, had spoken about the case on television.

“I have cooperated with the ICC because this is about  Pakistan and India and because cricket is a global game now. It  is the lifeline for many Pakistanis,” she told Reuters.

The remainder of the Pakistan team played a one-day warmup  game against Somerset in Taunton on Thursday and are due to play  Twenty20 matches against England in Cardiff tomorrow and Tuesday, followed by five one-dayers.

Officials said two replacement players would join the team  by next week.

In recent years Pakistan have faced ball-tampering  accusations, doping scandals, security problems and  dressing-room intrigues but Lorgat was keen to stress the ICC  remained supportive of Pakistani cricket.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) disciplined seven players  in March, banning some and fining others, after an inquiry  blamed infighting within the team for the poor performances on a  tour to Australia where they did not win a match.

“Our view was that, yes, it was a dysfunctional tour,” said  the ICC’s anti-corruption head Ronnie Flanagan, who joined  Lorgat on the stage at the packed news conference at Lord’s.

“Yes, there were things that went on that were not in the  spirit of the game. But we have no evidence that those things  that went on were for financial gain. There were a lot of other  things that went on.”