Mohammad Amir grilled by Scotland Yard

Fri, Sep 03 10 09:37 PM

London, Sep 3 (PTI) Teen Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir was the first to be grilled by Scotland yard detectives today after being provisionally suspended by the ICC. The 18-year-old Amir was interrogated at the Kilburn police station in north London and in the presence of his solicitor, about an alleged conspiracy to defraud bookmakers. The two other suspended players -- Test captain Salman Butt and paceman Mohammad Asif -- will also be questioned later in the day. They are being questioned over claims that no-balls were deliberately bowled during the fourth Test match at Lord''s on the instruction of alleged match-fixer, Mazhar Majeed, as part of an alleged spot-fixing scam. The 35-year-old Majeed was arrested and bailed earlier this week pending further inquiries by Scotland Yard. As the interrogation of the players was on, Haroon Lorgat, the ICC''s chief executive told newsmen at the Lord''s that the players were suspended because "we have got sufficient evidence" against them. The trio is provisionally suspended by the International Cricket council for "alleged irregular behaviour". ICC anti-corruption boss Sir Ronnie Flanagan said the players have "an arguable case to answer". "They (Butt, Asif and Amir) have a really arguable case to answer in our disciplinary arena but that is not the same as coming, in any sense, to a finding of guilt on their behalf," he said. "Priority must be given to the criminal investigation. He did not see this case as a sign that cricket is rife with corruption. I do not see this as the tip of an iceberg but I think it is something from which we must learn," he said. The trio has been charged under Article 2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support personnel and in accordance with its provision, the players have been barred from playing until the case is concluded.

Source: Published>