29 Aug 2010

Test cricket scam claimed

1:49 pm on 29 August 2010

A man has been arrested in connection with an reported cricket betting scam centred on the current Test between Pakistan and England at Lord's.

The News of the World claims it gave £150,000 to a middleman who promised to arrange for Pakistan to bowl three "no balls" during the match.

Scotland Yard said a man, 35, is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

Pakistan's manager said team members spoke to police at their hotel.

He later said he was shocked by the accusations, as were team members to whom he had spoken.

The newspaper claims it was given pre-warning of three separate incidents by the Pakistan team on Thursday and Friday.

It said members of its reporting team posed as Far Eastern businessmen and paid a middleman who told them exactly what would happen in the next day's play.

Statement issued

A joint statement issued by the International Cricket Council, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board says no players nor team officials have been arrested in relation to the incident and the fourth Test match will continue as scheduled.

The statement says there is no suggestion that the result of the match has been in any way fixed.