Three more players under scrutiny for spot-fixing

(REUTERS) Three more Pakistan players are under scrutiny for spot-fixing, a Pakistan Cricket Board source told Reuters yesterday.

“The PCB today had discussions with these players and has told them to submit details of their assets and accounts,” the source said after attending a PCB integrity committee meeting.

Three Pakistan players – the Test captain, Salman Butt, and the pace bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – have been suspended by the International Cricket Council and are under investigation over spot-fixing allegations.

The trio, who have denied wrongdoing, are suspended while allegations that they fixed parts of games during the tour of England which finished in September are investigated. The PCB source did not name the latest three players to come under scrutiny. Pakistan have delayed naming their squad for the one-day series in New Zealand and a preliminary squad for next year’s World Cup while investigations continue, the PCB said.

“All the issues relating to the clearance of players came under discussion. The committee decided that further consideration of this matter is required,” the PCB said. “The ODI squad for New Zealand and that for the World Cup will be announced at a later date.”

The chief selector, Mohsin Khan, said the squads could be announced only once the board gave clear instructions about which players could be considered. “We need to get a clearance from the integrity committee for each player; only then can we announce the squads,” Khan said.