No charges against Pakistan players: cricket chief

LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistan's cricket chief stressed Wednesday that British police had yet to charge any of the three players accused of spot-fixing and said there was "zero tolerance" against corruption.

Under-pressure Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt returned home to protests and calls for his resignation over the claims, which refuse to go away.

British newspaper the News of the World caused a major scandal by claiming it paid Mazhar Majeed, an agent for several Pakistan players, 150,000 pounds (185,000 euros, 230,000 dollars) for advance knowledge of no-balls in last month's final Test against England, which could then be bet upon.
That prompted the International Cricket Council to suspend Test captain Salman Butt, 25, rising 18-year-old bowling star Mohammad Aamer plus another bowler, Mohammad Asif, 27, pending a decision on the allegations.
British police raided the Pakistan team hotel and are further investigating the matter.
"Investigations are under way and police has yet to charge any player," Butt told the media.
Butt said team manager Yawar Saeed informed him about the matter.
"The police interrogated our players for nine hours last Friday, but there have been no charges levelled against them," he said.
Butt refused to discuss previous cases of match-fixing against Pakistani players.
"I don't want to go back in the past, let this inquiry be finished," he said.
"We are very concerned over the allegations and since we too have zero tolerance against corruption, we also want this to finish soon."
"We are really worried about the matter and if any player is found responsible then we will take strict action," he added.