Pakistan trio to face corruption charges

Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt

Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and player agent Mazhar Majeed are to face charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to cheat.

The charges, which have been brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, relate to allegations that Majeed accepted money from a third party to arrange for the players to bowl no-balls at predetermined points during Pakistan's fourth Test against England at Lord's during August 2010.

Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, Simon Clements, said in a statement: "We have decided that Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and their agent, Mazhar Majeed, should be charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and also conspiracy to cheat.

"The Crown Prosecution Service has been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service since the allegations of match-fixing became public on 29 August 2010.

"We received a full file of evidence on 7 December 2010 and we are satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute.

"I would remind everyone that these men are entitled to a fair trial and should be regarded as innocent of these charges unless it is proven otherwise in court. The International Cricket Council tribunal is due to announce its decision tomorrow, but criminal proceedings are active now. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice the trial."

The quartet have been summonsed to appear for a first hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 17th. Extradition orders will be sought against Butt, Amir and Asif if they fail to voluntarily return to Britain to answer the charges.

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