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Pakistan captain Salman Butt has refused to answer allegations that his team deliberately lost the dramatic SCG Test against Australia in January.
Suspicion has long surrounded the Sydney match in which Australia pulled off a miraculous escape against a seemingly imploding Pakistan.
Before he left his post as the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption boss in May, Lord Condon indicated he had grave concerns about the Sydney Test but was unable to pin down the players’ motivation for underperforming.
Those fears have resurfaced following newspaper allegations that Pakistan had been involved in spot fixing during the Lord’s Test against England.
The man at the centre of the News of the World’s sting said the Sydney result had been rigged.
Player agent Mazhar Majeed said that Pakistan players had waited until odds against their defeat were prohibitive before ensuring the home side won in Sydney.
Butt, who served under then captain Mohammad Yousuf during the Sydney Test, attended the post-match press conference on Sunday following his side’s heavy defeat to England.
The skipper refused to answer questions about the Sydney Test and turned to Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed to answer for him.
“Anything to do with any allegations or anything that have been read or heard, I am hear to answer that and I would request you to refer to the current, present situation,” said the manager, who appeared hard of hearing as he continually asked reporters to speak up.
Majeed said that Butt, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal were all on his books in the damaging reports.
The newspaper says it secretly filmed its undercover reporters, posing as front men for a Far East gambling cartel, in discussion with Majeed, who appears to accept STG150,000 in order to make sure no-balls are bowled at certain times during the match.
Majeed was arrested by British police on Saturday for conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.
Butt said later in Sunday’s press conference that “every player” in his team had given “100 per cent” during the four-Test series against England.
The dramatic events cast the longest shadow over play at Lord’s on the final day as Pakistan limped to an innings and 225-run defeat.
Such was the ill feeling that England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke provided the coldest of receptions for Amir as the young paceman collected the Pakistan player of the series award.
Saeed expected the rest of Pakistan’s tour to continue with the next match a Twenty20 international in Cardiff on Sunday.
“As far as we are concerned the one-day series is on,” he said.
Under English law, players found guilty of being involved in the fixing of sporting events could face jail terms.
Allegations have been rife of spot fixing in English county cricket this summer with Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria currently under investigation by police.
England captain Andrew Strauss said if the Pakistan players were found guilty of the allegations, they should “not play international cricket again”.
The skipper said it was up to the ECB and the Pakistan board to decide whether the tour should continue.
“Let’s let the dust settle … it is easy to get very emotional at the moment,” he said.
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