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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Butt refuses to apologise upon arrival in England

LONDON: Pakistan cricket chief Ijaz Butt flew into England on Tuesday still steadfastly refusing to apologise for his role in a row over 'spot-fixing' that has been the talk of world cricket.
Pakistan's recent tour of England, where they also played Australia in a neutral series, was marred by spot-fixing allegations.
The tour ended in acrimony when Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Butt alleged England players were paid "enormous amounts of money" to lose the third one-day international at The Oval, sparking a furious row between the two countries' cricket officials.
England players and the England and Wales Cricket Board have threatened legal action unless they receive an unreserved apology from Butt who, at the time, said he was simply repeating something he'd heard from bookmakers.
Butt, due to meet with his London lawyers on Wednesday, gave little away when asked by reporters after getting off his plane Tuesday if he'd apologise.
"I will talk to you people once I am through with my visit here."
As to whether he was ready for legal action if he didn't apologise, Butt said: "It depends, we'll see what happens.
"There is a lot of confusion, once I am through (with this visit) most of this confusion will be overcome."
Butt is due to meet Elizabeth Robertson, the British lawyer representing Pakistani players and the PCB over the spot-fixing allegations.
He is also expected to meet Scotland Yard officers who have already interviewed Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Wahab Riaz.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provisionally suspended Butt, Aamer and Asif following a newspaper report the trio were involved in a plot to bowl no-balls deliberately during a Test against England at Lord's.
The ICC has launched a separate inquiry into the September 17 one-dayer at The Oval after British tabloid The Sun said the scoring pattern of Pakistan's innings in the match was pre-arranged with bookmakers. Butt also met ICC officials last week in an unsuccessful attempt to get the provisional suspension on the three players lifted. However, it is understood the ICC are waiting to see if England and Pakistan can resolve the matter before taking any action themselves.
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