Azerbaijan airline blames 'external interference' for plane crash    At least 69 dead after boat sinks in Morocco waters    Israel strikes Sanaa airport and other Houthi targets across Yemen    Two die in Sydney to Hobart yacht race    Ukraine captures injured North Korean soldier, says Seoul    Lulu Retail expands in Saudi Arabia with two new stores    Absher launches service to report about absconding of visit visa holders    Warehouse of counterfeit products busted in Riyadh    Indonesia's Consultative Assembly speaker hails MWL's efforts in disseminating moderate image of Islam Sheikh Al-Issa receives Al-Muzani at MWL headquarters in Makkah    King Salman receives written message from Putin    Saudi Arabia to host Gulf Cup 27 in Riyadh in 2026    Saudi Arabia, Bahrain secure wins in thrilling Khaleeji Zain 26 Group B clashes    Celebrated Indian author MT Vasudevan Nair dies at 91    RCU launches women's football development project    Damac appoints Portuguese coach Nuno Almeida    RDIA launches 2025 Research Grants on National Priorities    Financial gain: Saudi Arabia's banking transformation is delivering a wealth of benefits, to the Kingdom and beyond    Blake Lively's claims put spotlight on 'hostile' Hollywood tactics    Five things everyone should know about smoking    Do cigarettes belong in a museum    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Pak trio face UK trial on May 20
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 18 - 03 - 2011

LONDON: Three Pakistan cricketers, accused of taking bribes to fix parts of a Test match in England last year, told police the incidents were coincidental or bad luck, a London court heard Thursday.
The trio, former captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, are accused by British prosecutors of spot-fixing or rigging the match by bowling no-balls at pre-agreed times during the fourth Test at Lord's last August.
“There is no doubt that the allegations are very serious. I know you understand that,” Judge Howard Riddle told the men at a hearing at London's Westminster Magistrates' court.
Along with a fourth man, sporting agent Mazhar Majeed, the three players, who appeared in court wearing dark suits and dark open-necked shirts, face charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, and conspiracy to cheat.
Prosecutor Sally Walsh told the court Butt and Amir had said in police interviews that money which had been found was from appearances at an ice-cream parlor owned by Majeed.
Butt told detectives the no-balls were coincidental and Amir said they were the result of bad luck because the ground had been slippery, Walsh said. The men were ordered to appear again at London's Southwark Crown Court on May 20 and were given unconditional bail, while Majeed was ordered to surrender his passport. Riddle said, while Britain had no extradition treaty with Pakistan, any failure to show up for future court hearings would end their careers.
“Failing to attend these proceedings will destroy playing international cricket in the future,” he said, describing the men as being of good character. “Their reputation is of the utmost importance. They have a very strong incentive to attend trial and to defend this.”
In addition to the criminal case, the men have been given lengthy bans after having been found guilty of corruption by the ICC. They have all lodged appeals against the bans with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Amir's lawyer Gareth Peirce said her client had had to deal with problems with British immigration in order to attend Thursday's hearing.
If found guilty of the charges, the men face prison sentences of up to seven years.


Clic here to read the story from its source.