October trial date set for Pakistan cricketers

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LONDON: The trial of three Pakistan cricketers accused of spot fixing is set to start Oct. 4 in London.


Justice John Saunders set the date at the latest inquiry on Friday into the allegations that programmed no balls were bowled during a test match alongside England last year.


Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir as well as their agent, Mazhar Majeed have been emotional with conspiracy to cheat and scheme to obtain and accept corrupt payments. They were not at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.


The case centers on allegations initial uncovered in a British tabloid investigation that the players received cash for deliberately bowling no-balls throughout the fourth test against England in August.


Prosecutors disclosed at Friday’s hearing that they are trying to get hold of transcripts from part of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption tribunal that led to the three players both being banned from the sport for at least five years.


Butt, the skipper during last year’s series, received a further suspended five-year ban and Asif, a fast bowler like Amir, was handed a further two-year suspended sanction.


Undercover newspaper reporters to arrange for the players to bowl, no balls, accuse Majeed of tolerant 150,000 pounds during a sting.


Accepting corrupt payments is an offense under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and carries a utmost sentence of seven years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.


Cheating is an offense under the Gambling Act 2005 and carries a utmost sentence of two years imprisonment and an unlimited very well.