Spot-fixing/Match-fixing scandal

[PAKFA]

Tainted trio admit Majeed paid money, says PCB
Omer Farooq Khan, TNN, Sep 4, 2010, 07.54pm IST

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Tags:spot-fixing|scotland yard|salman butt|pakistan cricket board|mohammad asif|mohammad aamer|mazhar majeed


ISLAMABAD: The three Pakistani cricketers, accused of an alleged betting scam, have reportedly admitted before police that they received money from the bookie Mazhar Majeed but denied any knowledge of the wrongdoing, saying that the money recovered from them was given on account of sponsorship contracts that they had signed with the different commercial organizations, said legal advisor of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The players Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Test captain Salman Butt were interviewed separately on Friday by Scotland Yard investigators at a police station in London.

"All the players have informed the police that the man Mazhar Majeed was their agent, but they had no knowledge about his illegal activities," the PCB legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi told private TV channels in Pakistan. He said that the three players also showed a copy of their sponsorship contracts to London police, which they signed with Majeed. The players were later released without any criminal charges.

The Scotland Yard police seized money and mobile phones from the players on last Sunday, investigating any possible link between the bank notes found in their possession and the money handed to Mazhar Majeed as part of the ploy by British tabloid News of the World, which made the allegations. News of the World accused agent Mazhar Majeed of accepting money in exchange for getting fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer to bowl no-balls during the Lord's Test between England and Pakistan. Majeed, was arrested last weekend by police over the News of the World allegations over money-laundering allegations.

Rizvi said that players all around the world have their agents and it's not something new. "The players choose their agents on their own and the board has nothing to do with it," he said, adding that Mazhar had been associated with different Pakistan players as an agent for the last six to seven years.

Test captain Salman Butt, Asif and Aamer were suspended by the International Cricket Council on Thursday. They have two weeks time to decide whether they want to appeal against the suspension.

Rizvi turned down the reports that captain Salman Butt had taken the money from Majeed allegedly to arrange dowry of his sister.

The legal advisor said that the players had gone to the police station voluntarily and that they were not under arrest. He said that the players would extend full cooperation to the police and the ICC, which has charged them under its anti-corruption code and temporarily banned them from playing in any form of cricket.

He said that all the three players were issued separate notices by the ICC and now the players have to fight their appeals on their own.

"The PCB will just monitor what happens at the appeals, but they have to contest it on their own," Rizvi said.


Read more: Tainted trio admit Majeed paid money, says PCB - Top Stories - Cricket - Sports - The Times of India Tainted trio admit Majeed paid money, says PCB - Top Stories - Cricket - Sports - The Times of IndiaTainted trio admit Majeed paid money, says PCB - Top Stories - Cricket - Sports - The Times of India

 

[Sonic_boom]

ha ha ha where are now conspiracy theorists claiming India's hand in all this $hit?

 

[bc040400065]

Spot-fixing not confined to Pakistan cricket: Imran
PTI, Sep 4, 2010, 08.18pm IST

KARACHI: Pakistan's former captain, Imran Khan fears that the menace of spot-fixing in cricket could be a much more malignant problem then it is being perceived to be after the allegations and suspension of three Pakistani players in England.

Imran said in a television interview that he believed that spot-fixing/betting might be going on uninterrupted in many countries and was not just a problem confined to Pakistan cricket.

Test captain, Salman Butt and new ball bowlers, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer are under suspension by the International Cricket Council after a British tabloid, the " News of the World" last week claimed that the players' agent Mazhar Majeed had paid bribes to the trio to do spot-fixing in the Lord's Test against England.

Imran said that the ICC and other cricket authorities needed to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter in the world of cricket.

"I still fear that there is no way to stop this problem of betting and spot fixing. How can anyone tell that something is wrong if a batsman plays a maiden over or if a bowler bowls a no-ball," the cricketer-turned-politician said.

He pointed out that even in the present case, it was not the ICC anti-corruption and security unit that had unearthed the case, but it came to the fore because of the media.

"We really don't know the scale of this problem at the moment. There are only allegations against our players but one thing I know is that if Scotland Yard is involved then they will reach a fair conclusion," he said.

Imran said that in 1994 when the match fixing accusations first broke out in Pakistan, he had gone to the PCB office in Gaddafi stadium and told the officials to take exemplary action against the players alleged to have indulged in match-fixing.

"I told them this is the time to root out this disease. I think that perhaps if at that time the board had taken decisive action we would never have seen this problem emerge again in our cricket," he said.

Imran, however, also made the point that bookmakers and betting in cricket was nothing new and had been going on for years now.

"And the trail always leads to India because the real betting mafia operates out of Mumbai. I remember when we used to tour India we used to hear a lot of about how players had been approached by bookmakers to fix matches," he said.

He also recalled how in 1988 during a tournament in Sharjah, a bookie had called him up late night and informed him that four of his players had been brought by bookies and would underperform in next day's final.

"I just went out next day and warned the team I was keeping a close watch on them and if I even suspected someone had not given his best he would not only never play for Pakistan again but be put behind bars," he said.


Spot-fixing not confined to Pakistan cricket: Imran - Top Stories - Cricket - Sports - The Times of India

 

[lalluyadav]

Spot-fixing not confined to Pakistan cricket: Imran
PTI, Sep 4, 2010, 08.18pm IST

KARACHI: Pakistan's former captain, Imran Khan fears that the menace of spot-fixing in cricket could be a much more malignant problem then it is being perceived to be after the allegations and suspension of three Pakistani players in England.

Imran said in a television interview that he believed that spot-fixing/betting might be going on uninterrupted in many countries and was not just a problem confined to Pakistan cricket.

Test captain, Salman Butt and new ball bowlers, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer are under suspension by the International Cricket Council after a British tabloid, the " News of the World" last week claimed that the players' agent Mazhar Majeed had paid bribes to the trio to do spot-fixing in the Lord's Test against England.

Imran said that the ICC and other cricket authorities needed to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter in the world of cricket.

"I still fear that there is no way to stop this problem of betting and spot fixing. How can anyone tell that something is wrong if a batsman plays a maiden over or if a bowler bowls a no-ball," the cricketer-turned-politician said.

He pointed out that even in the present case, it was not the ICC anti-corruption and security unit that had unearthed the case, but it came to the fore because of the media.

"We really don't know the scale of this problem at the moment. There are only allegations against our players but one thing I know is that if Scotland Yard is involved then they will reach a fair conclusion," he said.

Imran said that in 1994 when the match fixing accusations first broke out in Pakistan, he had gone to the PCB office in Gaddafi stadium and told the officials to take exemplary action against the players alleged to have indulged in match-fixing.

"I told them this is the time to root out this disease. I think that perhaps if at that time the board had taken decisive action we would never have seen this problem emerge again in our cricket," he said.

Imran, however, also made the point that bookmakers and betting in cricket was nothing new and had been going on for years now.

"And the trail always leads to India because the real betting mafia operates out of Mumbai. I remember when we used to tour India we used to hear a lot of about how players had been approached by bookmakers to fix matches," he said.

He also recalled how in 1988 during a tournament in Sharjah, a bookie had called him up late night and informed him that four of his players had been brought by bookies and would underperform in next day's final.

"I just went out next day and warned the team I was keeping a close watch on them and if I even suspected someone had not given his best he would not only never play for Pakistan again but be put behind bars," he said.


Spot-fixing not confined to Pakistan cricket: Imran - Top Stories - Cricket - Sports - The Times of India

it all depends on player to be influenced.nothing happened to tendulkar,dravid etccc.

 

[Hulk]

Well I want to know that if they denied any money being paid earlier. If yes then why did they said that?

Also irrespective of people saying money was paid for contracts, it does not sound right. No one pays such huge sum of money in cash. The common practice is check or wire transfer.

Also what about changing the coat full of money, interesting way of paying money for contracts.

It seems that having being caught they worked with the bookie to create a fake agreement purely to get both sides out of police troubles.

 

[Marxist]

Arif Abbasi fears involvement of PCB in spot-fixing

KARACHI: Former chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Arif Abbasi, said that there is a possibility of PCB’s involvement in the spot-fixing scandal.

He told SAMAA on Saturday that the situation would be pathetic, if News of the World releases more evidence. SAMAA

Arif Abbasi fears involvement of PCB in spot-fixing

 

[JanjaWeed]

Endorsements/sponsorship doesn't pay in £50 cash notes. No one would pay you 50,000 pounds without any paperwork mentioning it, easiest lie to catch! The last I heard the Salman Butt's excuse was, 'It is for my sister's wedding!'

to add to that.. who payes sponsership money in cash? specially in this country.. c'mon they need to stop behaving like three wise monkeys.

 

[Marxist]

Cash found in players' hotel rooms 'not much': Pak envoy


Pakistan High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hasan on Saturday admitted that cash was recovered by the police from hotel rooms of the Pakistan cricketers, whose performance are being probed into in the wake of a spot-fixing scandal.

"The cash was not much, around 30,000 pounds and that is not a big amount when you are in a long tour. Salman Butt's sister is getting married he could be using the money for shopping. But his mother fell ill so she could not come," Hasan said.

The envoy felt accepted that the money was given to the players - Butt and pacer duo of Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif - by the alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed.

"Definitely there was money given to them (players) by Majeed. Majeed was agent of these players and thats the connection between him and the players. I did not know whether he had any links with Indian bookies or Bombay bookies," Hasan said.

"But the only question is whether they (players) declared it or not, that should be investigated," he added.

Asked about the police investigation, Hasan said that he did not have much knowledge about the progress of the probe.

"I have not talked to the police. I don't know what evidence they have got, they have not informed us so far. But I hope the investigators take a lenient view of the fact that they (players) are from a poor background and not very educated," he said.

Pakistan cricket found itself in a crisis after British tabloid 'The News of the World' broke the story about an alleged nexus between three players - captain Salman Butt and pacer duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir - and Majeed.

"Majeed, I believe, was involved with some of the bookies. He was constantly in touch with some of them and had telephonic exchanges which was discovered," Hasan said.


Cash found in players' hotel rooms 'not much': Pak envoy - CRICKETNDTV.com

 

[WAQAS119]

to add to that.. who payes sponsership money in cash? specially in this country.. c'mon they need to stop behaving like three wise monkeys.

Man! to evade tax mostly this tactic is used!

 

[Gentle Typhoon]

Arif Abbasi fears involvement of PCB in spot-fixing

I too have a feeling that if these match fixing allegations are proven then Ijaz Butt is involved as well.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon slammed the players and Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan.

"We can't have national icons jeopardising the standing of the nation because of rash and brash youngsters who want to make money quickly,"

Diplomats at the Pakistani legation in Belgravia are less then amused by his stunning remarks with one of them saying that he felt "depressed" by Hasan's statements to the media.

"We are trying to get him (HC Hasan) off the TV screens, but there's no stopping him."

"I suppose it is quite funny for outsiders, but the rest of us find it embarrassing. Anyway, it'll backfire, I have my own contacts among journalists and I am told they (the News of the World) will produce more things on Sunday,"

 

[Speaker]

This case is being handled pretty poorly. There are just a few pieces of evidence to be examined and those are pretty damning if verified positively. What is taking Scotland Yard so long to analyze the footage and the currency notes? If they manage a confession from the players with this evidence, this should be an open and shut case.

Trying to investigate multiple layers can be detrimental to the primary case. You should get the main accused in the dock and then offer them clemency if they are ready to testify against others. This is the legal angle and the ICC/PCB can decide on a fitting punishment later.

All said, they need to either establish guilt, or declare that these players are innocent. There can be no middle ground.

 

[Bang Galore]

Man! to evade tax mostly this tactic is used! And BTW mind your language and stop being art a naked good for nothing mule who is the child of the the moronic imbecile and the stinking salad for brains.

You can't have it both ways. Wave a contract when that is need to explain their contact with Majeed & then claim that the money was taken in cash to avoid being taxed. They are doing their best to wiggle out of this. Whether or not they are charged criminally, few people will doubt that they were paid off. Don't allow them to drag you into the gutter with them. They have already done enough damage to your country's reputation.

Time you open your eyes. Don't stake your reputation on them.

 

[soul hacker]

Afridi apologises for spot-fixing controversy


Pakistan's one-day captain, Shahid Afridi, has issued a public apology on behalf of the three players suspended by the ICC after allegations of spot-fixing during the fourth Test at Lord's. Speaking to the press after the visiting team's training session ahead of the first Twenty20 against England in Cardiff, Afridi also distanced himself from the events of the last week and insisted that his team were focused on the remaining games of their tour.

"I think it is very bad news," said Afridi. "On behalf of these players - I know they are not in this series - but on behalf of these boys I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all the cricketing nations."

Afridi also revealed that Mazhar Majeed - the man alleged to be at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal - had accompanied the team on various tours in the past. "This guy has been travelling with the guys in the West Indies and in Australia," he said. "I saw him on the tours. I didn't know anything about this.

Afridi, who took no part in Pakistan's Test series against England after stepping down as Test captain after a 150-run loss to Australia at Lord's earlier this summer also guaranteed that the limited-overs leg of Pakistan's tour would continue despite any further revelations in the ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption in cricket.

"I told the boys don't read the newspapers tomorrow, just focus on cricket. I know the Pakistan people are very upset. We all love cricket. As a team all we can do is to play good, aggressive cricket and maybe when we go back home the things will settle down. It is a big challenge for me as a captain but I think we are all ready and focused.

"Myself and the coach have already told the boys: 'Don't talk about this issue, we are here to play cricket.' It is none of our business and we are here to play cricket. The boys know that. They want to win and motivate themselves - and as a captain, that is what I want."


i think its great move by Afridi

 

[WAQAS119]

You can't have it both ways. Wave a contract when that is need to explain their contact with Majeed & then claim that the money was taken in cash to avoid being taxed. They are doing their best to wiggle out of this. Whether or not they are charged criminally, few people will doubt that they were paid off. Don't allow them to drag you into the gutter with them. They have already done enough damage to your country's reputation.

Time you open your eyes. Don't stake your reputation on them.

I am an auditor/Chartered Accountant and I know what I am talking about! Having a contract is different thing and payment for any transactions is a different thing. People use cash payments instead of transactions through bank to evade tax or material part of transaction through cash and rest through bank.

 

[Awesome]

Yasir Hameed ka sahi ka naya drama hai. I mean, he's never played good himself but hes excluding himself from the match fixing and putting it on his peers.

He should not speak these words without evidence, because otherwise I don't see him ever returning to Pakistani team afterwards.