This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-15538516
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Pakistan cricketers guilty of betting scam | Pakistan cricketers guilty of betting scam |
(40 minutes later) | |
Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif have been found guilty of their part in a "spot-fixing" scam. | Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif have been found guilty of their part in a "spot-fixing" scam. |
Former captain Butt, 27, and fast bowler Asif, 28, had denied conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments. | |
But a jury at London's Southwark Crown Court found Butt guilty of both charges and Asif guilty of conspiring to cheat. | But a jury at London's Southwark Crown Court found Butt guilty of both charges and Asif guilty of conspiring to cheat. |
They plotted to deliberately bowl no-balls during a Lord's Test match against England last summer. | They plotted to deliberately bowl no-balls during a Lord's Test match against England last summer. |
After deliberating for nearly 17 hours, the jury unanimously convicted the pair of conspiracy to cheat. | After deliberating for nearly 17 hours, the jury unanimously convicted the pair of conspiracy to cheat. |
The jurors also found Butt guilty of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments by a majority of 10 to two. | The jurors also found Butt guilty of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments by a majority of 10 to two. |
The jury has not yet reached a verdict on whether Asif was also guilty of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments, and is continuing its deliberations. | The jury has not yet reached a verdict on whether Asif was also guilty of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments, and is continuing its deliberations. |
BBC sports news correspondent James Pearce, at the court, said the pair showed no reaction as the jury's verdict was read out. | |
The judge, Mr Justice Cooke, extended bail for them until sentencing later this week. | |
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Lahore, said the story was leading the national news in Pakistan and the four-week trial had been closely followed in the country. | |
'Rampant corruption' | 'Rampant corruption' |
Butt and Asif were charged after a tabloid newspaper alleged they took bribes to bowl deliberate no-balls. | |
The court heard the players, along with fast bowler Mohammad Amir, conspired with UK-based sports agent Mazhar Majeed, 36, to fix parts of the Lord's Test last August. | |
Three intentional no-balls were delivered during the match between Pakistan and England from August 26 to 29 last year. | Three intentional no-balls were delivered during the match between Pakistan and England from August 26 to 29 last year. |
Prosecutors said Butt and Asif had been motivated by greed to "contaminate" a match watched by millions of people and "betray" their team, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the sport itself. | Prosecutors said Butt and Asif had been motivated by greed to "contaminate" a match watched by millions of people and "betray" their team, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the sport itself. |
Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC said the case "revealed a depressing tale of rampant corruption at the heart of international cricket". |