Three Pakistan players declare innocence in betting scam

Three Pakistan cricketers accused of involvement in an illegal betting scam maintained their innocence yesterday after withdrawing from their team’s scandal-tainted tour of England.

Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif vowed to clear their names in a meeting in London with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan’s ambassador to Britain.

Speaking after meeting the players, Hasan said the players had insisted they were innocent of wrongdoing but were pulling out of the tour because of the “mental torture” of the scandal.

“The three players have said that they are extremely disturbed by what has happened in the past week, especially in regard of their alleged involvement in the crime,” Hasan told reporters.

“They mentioned that they are entirely innocent in the whole episode and shall defend their innocence as such.

“They maintain that on account of the mental torture which has deeply affected them, they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches,” Hasan said. “Therefore, they have requested that the Pakistan Cricket Board not consider them for the remaining matches.”

Asked later if he believed the trio were innocent, Hasan replied: “Yes, I believe in their innocence.”

He also denied suggestions the players were “running away” from the crisis by withdrawing from the tour.

“They are innocent. They are defending their innocence. They are not running away,” he said.

Butt, Aamer and Asif were all named in a News of the World report which alleged they were involved in a “spot-fixing” scam by bowling deliberate no-balls in last week’s Test match with England in exchange for cash.

The revelations have shocked the cricket world and led to calls from figures within the game that the players involved should be banned for life.

Pakistan officials had earlier confirmed the trio would play no further part in the tour – two upcoming Twenty20 games and five one-day internationals against England.