Akmal brothers, Riaz named in spot-fixing trial

London, Oct 7 The names of three more Pakistani cricketers have come up in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the fourth Test against England at Lord's last summer.

It has been alleged that Umar Akmal, his brother Kamran, and Wahab Riaz would carry out instructions from the agent, Mazhar Majeed, who has been charged with accepting illegal payments for spot-fixing and cheating at gambling.

The names emerged on the second day of the trial involving Pakistan's former captain Salman Butt and speedster Mohammad Asif, the Guardian reported.

Majeed and the teenaged bowler Mohammad Aamir - who has also been charged - are not present, although the jury has been told there is "nothing sinister" in their absence.

The court had heard Majeed saying to an undercover journalist that he had six players under his control, with batsman Imran Farhat among those he named.

However, according to the prosecution Majeed did clarify that Farhat was "not completely in the circle".

The court also heard of a conversation between Majeed and an unnamed Indian caller who is said to have frequently appeared in telephone schedules relating to the case and whom the prosecution described as "sinister".

"They talk about 'what we spoke about last night, and what offer can be made?'," prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee told the court. "The Indian caller provides a figure of a million dollars."

"The only context to place this in the light of all the evidence thus far, would be the price for Pakistan to lose the Test match when they were plainly poised for a memorable victory. Nothing else would make sense. It reveals that at least the idea had been floated - certainly between Majeed and the Indian party."