Players were not aware of Majeed's illegal activities: PCB legal advisor

LONDON: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Legal Advisor Tafazzul Rizvi on Saturday said that the Pakistani players, embroiled in the scam, were not aware of Mazhar Majeed's illegal activities.

According to the State television, Rizvi said all three players, Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Asif and Salman Butt, have 14 days to lodge their reply against the allegations.

He said Mazhar Majeed was the players’ agent, as when the players receive sponsorships, they have the right to individually pick their agents.

The PCB legal adviser also said that players have been suspended only on temporary basis.

The three players get interrogated

According to the British Newspaper the Telegraph, Amir was questioned about a message he allegedly sent to Mazhar Majeed, last Friday, asking whether he should do it or not.

Hours later, Amir bowled a no-ball in the Fourth Test at Lord’s.

Once the detectives were through with Amir, they questioned Muhammad Asif for two hours, while Captain Salman Butt was deliberately left for last.

The three were also separately cross-examined about their secret accounts in Swiss and British banks, which, according to the News of the World, Majeed claims he had set up in their names.

It is believed that Asif told the investigators that it was Butt who first introduced the players to Majeed.

Five other agencies besides Scotland Yard are believed to have interviewed the three accused.

Updated from print edition (below)

Scotland Yard releases cricketers: lawyer

British police released without charge three Pakistani cricket players embroiled in fixing claims after questioning them under caution on Friday, their lawyer said.

“Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt of the Pakistan cricket team have today been questioned under caution by the Metropolitan Police,” Elizabeth Robertson told reporters outside Kilburn police station in north London.

“They voluntarily attended Kilburn police station to answer questions relating to allegations published in the News of the The World.

“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.”

Aamer, Asif and Butt were named in a story by the News of the World alleging that deliberate no-balls had been bowled in the fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s, which finished with an England win Sunday.

The International Cricket Council has charged the three under its anti-corruption code and suspended them from playing in any further matches until their cases are resolved.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2010.