Thaindian News

Islamabad, Sep 23 (ANI): The Pakistan High Commission in London has told the Pakistan government that chances of players coming out clean from the spot-fixing allegations are high, as the Royal Prosecution judging the strength of the case against cricketers is not dealing with those allegations, but is instead looking into any player’s involvement into defrauding bookies.

“The Scotland Yard forwarded all the relevant material to the Crown Prosecution on September 17. The Prosecution is not dealing with spot-fixing or match-fixing. They have confirmed it that they are only dealing with the possibility whether any of the three were in any way involved in defrauding bookies,” The News quoted the High Commission, as saying in a letter sent to the Pakistan government.

“Since there are no direct allegations against players on any deliberate attempt to defraud bookies, there are remote chances that any player could be implicated or the charges be pressed against them,” the High Commission added.

Since receiving bets is a lawful activity in England, bookmakers have got official coverage in England and are free to take bets. However, anyone found guilty of defrauding them is liable for punishment.

It had been learnt that the material that had been forwarded to Crown Investigators had also got nothing to do with spot-fixing, as the government investigators in England had got no jurisdiction to investigate into the fixing allegations, the paper said.

Three Pakistani cricketers- Butt, Asif and Aamer- were suspended under the ICC’s anti-corruption code after allegations of spot-fixing in the fourth test against England at Lord’s. (ANI)