LAHORE:
Banned Pakistan fast-bowler Mohammad Amir left for London where he is set to face a criminal hearing over allegations of spot-fixing.
Amir, former Test captain Salman Butt, fellow fast-bowler Mohammad Asif and their agent Mazhar Majeed have been charged with conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
The quartet were arrested after police inquiries following accusations in the News of the World that no-balls were deliberately bowled in the fourth Test match between Pakistan and England at Lord’s last August.
Amir said his visit had been delayed because of visa problems and now he wanted to resolve the predicament he is in as soon as possible.
“Now I have sorted that out and am going to attend the hearing with a hope that this crisis is resolved soon,” he said.
Asif flew to London on Monday, while Salman said he was not required to attend the hearing and that his lawyer, Yasin Patel, will handle matters on his behalf.
The four accused had earlier appeared at a hearing in London on March 17, which set the date for today’s court case, and were granted unconditional bail.
At the March hearing, prosecutor Sally Walsh had said that all four men were accused of having ‘conspired together and with others unknown for £150,000 as inducement or reward to bowl three no-balls at the fourth Test’.
Severe consequences
Under English law, accepting corrupt payments is an
offence that carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine, whereas cheating can result in a two-year sentence.
A separate International Cricket Council anti-corruption tribunal has already banned the three players for a minimum of five years each which they will appeal against.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2011.
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