×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Another cricket scandal

Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif have been convicted by a British court of fixing parts of a Test match

A jury at London's Southwark Crown Court found former captain Butt guilty of both counts of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments as part of a betting scam.

Asif was found guilty of a single count of conspiracy to cheat.

Judge Jeremy Cooke ordered the jury, which had already spent a total 16 hours discussing its verdicts, to retire again to continue its efforts to reach at least a 10-2 majority decision on the second charge against Asif.

Butt could face seven years in jail when the pair are sentenced later this week. The lesser charge of conspiracy to cheat carries a possible punishment of two years in prison.

Butt and Asif conspired with sports agent Mazhar Majeed to ensure the delivery of three intentional no-balls during the match against England in August 2010.

Butt, Asif and bowler Mohammad Amir have already received lengthy suspensions by an International Cricket Council anti-corruption tribunal in Doha for fixing parts of the Lord's test.

Butt was banned for 10 years, five of which are suspended, Amir was banned for five years and Asif was given a seven-year ban, with two suspended.

Cooke previously told the 12 jurors to accept that Amir was involved.

The jury initially retired at midday Thursday but reported to Cooke on Monday that it was unable to reach a unanimous decision.

The allegations originally surfaced after Majeed was recorded by an undercover reporter working for the now-defunct News of the World tabloid saying that the three Pakistan players had accepted money to fix betting markets.

Majeed was secretly filmed accepting 150,000 pounds ($242,000) in cash from the journalist.

Butt said he had ignored the requests from Majeed, his agent, and Asif said he had only bowled the no-ball at precisely the time Majeed said it would be delivered because Butt had told him to run faster moments before bowling.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.