Pakistan minister vows tough action on spot-fixing

Pakistan’s sports minister yesterday vowed tough action against anyone in cricket found guilty of spot-fixing after the beleaguered national team were hit by fresh allegations.

The ICC has launched an investigation into a “certain scoring pattern” that emerged during Pakistan’s victory over England at the Oval on Friday in the third one-day international.

It followed a report by British newspaper The Sun, which claimed to have been made aware of details of Pakistan’s innings before the match got underway.

The new allegations follow claims last month by another British tabloid, the News of the World, that Test captain Salman Butt, and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir were paid by an alleged bookie to under-perform during August’s Test at Lord’s.

The ICC suspended the trio while Scotland Yard interrogated Salman, Asif, Aamir and a fourth player, Wahab Riaz.

Pakistan won a fourth match at Lord’s on Monday to level the five-match series 2-2. The last match is scheduled for Southampton today.

“Four of our players are under investigation and Scotland Yard has given an initial report to the Crown Prosecution for further action,” Sports Minister Ijaz Jakhrani told parliament.

“We are waiting for the investigation to complete and if any player is found guilty then we will take strong action,” said Jakhrani.

Jakhrani criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and said it should “take responsibility” for what has happened.

Several members of the lower and upper houses of parliament have demanded that PCB chairman Ijaz Butt resign in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal.

Butt, who took over in October 2008, has resisted these calls.