Three Pakistani cricketers who have been facing spot-fixing allegations will miss the friendly match between Pakistan and Somerset in Taunton on Thursday.
Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed, who is in Taunton, Somerset, with the cricket team confirmed on Wednesday morning that the three cricketers had left some minutes ago for London to meet Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt and high commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan in London on Thursday. Mr Hasan was not available for any comments on Wednesday and his office said he was busy in meetings all day long.
[Meanwhile, a two-member team of the International Cricket Council anti-corruption and security unit on Wednesday questioned a Pakistan fast bowler’s ex-girlfriend regarding her statement that the tainted Pakistan bowler had done spot-fixing in recent times, PTI reports from Karachi.]
Two fast bowlers have been accused of deliberately bowling three no-balls during the fourth Test between Pakistan and England at Lord’s last Thursday and Friday.
Mr Saeed said the meeting had been postponed by a day and this would mean that the trio would miss the friendly match against Somerset. He, however, said they had not been dropped from the Pakistan team.
The PCB has “emphasised that there is no question of calling off the tour or dropping of any player from playing the matches”, the press councillor at the Pakistan high commission here, Sayeeda Rizvi, said Tuesday night. The statement by Ms Rizvi said England and Wales Cricket Board officials too have committed to continue the tour and provide necessary facilities and security to the Pakistani cricket team. “Since the matter is under investigation and no proof has yet been found media is advised not to speculate or insinuate against any individual, including the PCB setup,” Ms Rizvi added.
“So far no case has been made against any player, only investigations are being conducted by Scotland Yard. There has been complete cooperation between the PCB, ECB and the investigators. The PCB has also appointed a leading solicitor to provide legal support to the PCB and the players,” Ms Rizvi said.
There was speculation that Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt had met International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Wednesday, but there was no confirmation from either side about the meeting. Mr Lorgat and Mr Butt are scheduled to meet in London on Thursday.
[The ICC ACSU officials, sources said, met an actress-model in Lahore to question her about her statement on a TV channel that her former boyfriend had done spot-fixing, PTI reports. “The ACSU includes Hasan Reza, a Pakistani police official who has recently been appointed as the ACSU officer in Pakistan. He is a serving DSP in the Punjab police and is working with the ACSU on deputation,” one source told PTI. “The two officials had a meeting today but everything is being kept secret, including the identity of the other ACSU man,” the source said. The model also “told the ACSU officers” that a photographer had called up her ex-boyfriend around 17 times on the telephone in recent times, the source added. The photographger has in the media denied the model’s allegations, claiming he had nothing to do with fixing or betting and that he was surprised at her claims. He told Geo News he only knew the model sparingly and had no close friendship with her ex-boyfriend.
[The model had a highly publicised breakup with the fast bowler earlier this year when he decided to get married to a girl chosen by his parents. She then claimed he owed her money which he had taken as a loan from her when he was suspended from international
cricket in 2009. The two traded allegations but reached a settlement on the intervention of a common friend.]