Pakistani players face more allegations of match-fixing

In fast-paced revelations, the focus in the Pakistan team match-fixing scandal has now shifted to allegations that Pakistani players fixed the first Test against England in the series just ended.

Also, a latest video released by British tabloid The News of the World is perhaps the most shocking one yet. After the video where bookie Mazhar Majeed was seen putting 10,000 pounds into his jacket which was handed over by the News of the World reporter, in the new video Majeed is now seen taking off the jacket and handing it over to fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who puts it on.

The bookie, arrested on Saturday and released on bail last night, was seen on video claiming that the result of a Test match played in Sydney in January this year between Australia and Pakistan was rigged. This was a sting operation conducted by The News of the World. In the video, Majeed is seen boasting about the fixed result of the Sydney Test and the money he earned from it.

Now, British tabloid The Sun has reported that Pakistani players also allegedly rigged the opening Test against England at Nottingham, which the hosts won by a massive 354 runs, in the series just ended.

The Sun has reported that Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick was told about Pakistani players being involved in match fixing a month ago.

"Ms Dick, head of the Specialist Crime Directorate, was still assessing that information yesterday when a News of the World probe exposed a Pakistani match-fixing ring," the report said.

Meanwhile, another report claimed that the Pakistani players were found with cash exceeding their daily allowances during a Scotland Yard raid on Saturday night.

THE STING:

In the videos released, bookie Majeed talks about how he launders match-fixing money through a football club. "The only reason I bought a football club is to do that," he said. (Who is Mazhar Majeed?)

The video shows him demanding a £10,000 down payment before guaranteeing two no-balls on the second day of the Sydney match during a secret meeting outside a restaurant where he was dining with the team.

The British tabloid has said the bookie also boasted that the betting syndicate made more than 830,000 pounds with one controversial Test this year.

SHOCK AND ANGER

Meanwhile, during the investigation, the Scotland Yard detectives spoke to Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and skipper Salman Butt and took away their mobile phones, Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed confirmed on Sunday.

However, despite the allegations, Saeed has denied that Pakistan cricket was "institutionally corrupt".

"We would like to wait to see what happens in the investigation. Only then we can say anything," Saeed said.

Back home the Pakistan cricket fraternity is stunned by the latest developments and has reacted with shock and anger. Former captains say the accused players and the team management should be called back home immediately and prompt steps be taken to deal with the scandal.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has also expressed his disappointment at the allegations and promised that any player found guilty would be severely punished.

If wrongdoing was proven, "all the players involved must forget to play for Pakistan in future," the President's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/sports/pakistani-players-face-more-allegations-of-match-fixing-48253?trendingnow

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