Bookie arrested in cricket betting scandal

News of a cricket betting scandal involving the touring Pakistani team broke over the weekend and has topped most British, Australian and Pakistani headlines. British police detained bookie Mazhar Majeed, interviewed four players including captain Salman Butt, and confiscated cell phones for further examination.
The ‘News of the World’ newspaper, which carried out a sting editorial operation, claims that two Pakistani players deliberately cheated at pre-arranged moments in the match by overstepping the ‘no ball’ line.
Bowlers Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and wicket keeper Kamran Akmal were all interviewed by police investigators.
The News of the World reported that it’s under cover reporters, posing as Far Eastern businessmen, paid a middleman GBP150 000 (Euro182 000) and in return were told exact details relating to play during the following day.
The reporting team claims it was told exactly when three no balls would be bowled during the current test against England.
On Sunday evening Majeed was bailed pending further enquiries.
The allegations are the latest in a string of match-fixing accusations that have dogged the team 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.
England won the Test at Lord’s by an innings and 225 runs – Pakistan’s heaviest Test defeat – securing a 3-1 series victory. Team officials said that Pakistan will complete their England cricket tour, which includes seven one-day internationals, starting next Sunday.

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