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Monday, August 30, 2010

Agent Released Over Cricket 'Betting Scam'

Cricket agent Mazhar Majeed has been bailed without charge over an alleged betting scam involving the Pakistan national team.
The 35-year-old was arrested after the News of the World (NOTW) claimed he offered to bribe certain
Pakistani bowlers to manipulate a Test match against England.
England won the Test at Lord's by an innings and 225 runs - Pakistan's heaviest Test defeat - securing a 3-1
 series victory.
Pakistan's captain Salman Butt, bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif and wicket keeper
Kamran Akmal have all been questioned by Scotland Yard.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed said police had also confiscated the four players' mobile phones as part of the investigation.
Scotland Yard said Majeed had been bailed to appear before police at a future date.
The NOTW's report said Amir and Asif had bowled pre-arranged 'no-balls' on the opening day of the Test on Thursday.
A no-ball is an illegal delivery where a bowler's foot crosses the line. A run is awarded to the opposing team and another ball must be bowled.
The paper claims three no-balls were delivered exactly as Majeed described during a secretly filmed meeting on the night before the Test at Lord's.
Video footage apparently shows the cricket agent counting out £150,000 given to him by investigators posing as businessmen, who allegedly told him they wanted to bet on no-balls.
Despite the allegations, 18-year-old Amir, who took five wickets in the second innings in the third test at the Oval and six in England's only innings at Lord's, was named Pakistan's man-of-the-series.
Pakistan also intend to complete their England cricket tour, which includes seven one-day internationals, starting next Sunday.
Pakistan Sports Minister Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani promised life bans for any Pakistan cricketer found guilty of match-fixing.
The nation's President Asif Ali Zardari has called for a detailed report from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Butt, who assumed the captaincy when Shahid Afridi retired from test cricket after the first test against Australia, said he had no intention of resigning.
"Definitely we have given our best, but the conditions have been difficult for the batsmen and this has been a very inexperienced team," the skipper said.
Majeed's brother and business partner Azhar Majeed said the claims were "laughable", adding: "I thought it was just rubbish."
Mr Saeed told the international cricket website Cricinfo that Mazhar and Azhar Majeed were agents representing a number of Pakistan players.
The Pakistani side has been dogged by match-fixing scandals and allegations of cheating since the 1990s.
In May this year, the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit looked at the team's poor performance after being heavily beaten by Australia during a tour of the country.
The Pakistani cricket board banned former captain Younus Khan and tour captain Mohammad Yousuf for an indefinite period.
Former captain Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved ul Hasan were banned for one year and fined heavily.
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