Jury out in cricket’s spot-fixing trial

A jury has begun deliberations in the spot-fixing trial of two Pakistani cricketers.

Former Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif face charges of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.

They are accused of a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls during a Test against England at Lord’s in August 2010. Prosecutors say they conspired with teenage bowler Mohammad Amir, agent Mazhar Majeed and others.

The trial judge, Jeremy Cooke, finished his summing up on Thursday morning after three weeks of testimony at Southwark Crown Court. He sent out the jury of six men and six women to start their deliberations.

The judge instructed the jury to accept that Amir and Majeed were involved in fixing.