Thaindian News

Sydney, Aug 30 (ANI): After surfacing of allegations that Pakistani players were involved in ’spot fixing’, captain Salman Butt has refused to answer allegations that his team deliberately lost the dramatic Sydney Test against Australia in January.

The Pakistan team is in the midst of a betting scam, where fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are alleged to have bowled pre-arranged no-balls in the Lord’s Test, which England won by an innings and 225 runs on Sunday.

Suspicion has long surrounded the Sydney match in which Australia pulled off a miraculous escape against a seemingly imploding Pakistan, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Lord Condon, the then International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption boss, indicated that he had grave concerns about the Sydney Test but was unable to pin down the players’ motivation for under performing.

Those fears have resurfaced following newspaper allegations that Pakistan had been involved in spot fixing during the Lord’s Test against England.

The man at the centre of the News of the World’s sting said the Sydney result had been rigged. Player agent Mazhar Majeed said that Pakistan players had waited until odds against their defeat were prohibitive before ensuring the home side won in Sydney.

Butt refused to answer questions about the Sydney Test and turned to Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed to answer for him.

“Anything to do with any allegations or anything that have been read or heard, I am hear to answer that and I would request you to refer to the current, present situation,” said the manager, who appeared hard of hearing as he continually asked reporters to speak up.

Majeed was arrested by British police on Saturday for conspiracy to defraud bookmakers. (ANI)