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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 bowler Asif, 28, had denied conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments. 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, 27, and Asif, 28, were charged after a tabloid newspaper alleged they took bribes to bowl deliberate no-balls. 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 Amir, conspired with UK-based sports agent Mazhar Majeed, 36, to fix parts of the Lord's Test last August. 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 take of rampant corruption at the heart of international cricket". Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC said the case "revealed a depressing tale of rampant corruption at the heart of international cricket".