Spot-fixing trial: Salman quizzed about teammates’ involvement

Prosecution grills banned captain about players’ role in ‘fixing’ activities.

LONDON: On the eleventh day of the spot-fixing trial involving Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, the banned captain was questioned on the possible involvement of his former teammates in corrupt activities.

Butt and Asif are facing charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, following the Lord’s Test last year when they allegedly conspired with their agent Mazhar Majeed and Mohammad Amir to bowl pre-planned no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges.

Prosecuting lawyer Aftab Jafferjee questioned Butt about several players’ possible involvement in ‘fixing’ activities, including fast-bowlers Mohammad Amir, Asif and Wahab Riaz. He was also questioned on a line of dialogue recovered from agent Mazhar Majeed’s phone.

Jafferjee began by asking Butt a pointed question regarding Riaz.

“Was Riaz in with the fixing,” asked Jafferjee when discussing text and phone dialogue surrounding the Oval Test that preceded Lord’s.

Butt replied: “Those other people can answer better than me.”

Jafferjee then explained to the court how the transfer of the initial £10,000, handed over by the undercover journalist to set up his sting, involved Wahab.

Majeed had the money in the inside pocket of his jacket, which he then gave to Wahab to wear, he said, pointing out that the fast-bowler was much bigger than Majeed and had been wearing a T-shirt.  Jafferjee suggested that the transfer of the cash was made by using Wahab.

Jafferjee also asked Butt whether Amir was involved in corrupt activities. Butt had earlier admitted that he had suspicions about the young fast-bowler after the scandal broke out.

“You can ask him,” said Butt before adding, “As I have said I had my suspicions.”

Butt was also asked to look at the printed transcript of a recovered text message sent at 1.00 am during the Oval Test from an Indian number to Majeed.

The Indian contact had said: “Kami (Kamran Akmal) and Amir minimum 13 off first three overs after Kami gives an indication by change of gloves with no wicket.”

Jafferjee probed Butt for his opinion on what was occurring in that message and suggested that fixing was being arranged.

“It shows what you are saying that something is going on,” replied Butt.

Lawson, Qadir to be character witnesses

Meanwhile, former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson, former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir and former national team trainer David Dwyer will be called as character witnesses for Butt.

Their witness accounts will be read from a statement. Butt played under Lawson, while Dwyer worked with the former opener for several years in his capacity as Pakistan’s conditioning coach.

The case continues.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2011.