Butt, Amir and Asif claim spot fixing allegations are part of conspiracy

London, Sep 1 : Pakistan Test skipper Salman Butt, and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif have claimed that spot fixing allegations are part of a conspiracy against them.

The Pakistan team is in the midst of a betting scam, where fast bowlers Amir and Asif are alleged to have bowled pre-arranged no-balls in the Lord’s Test against England.

The Pakistani players, who were first questioned at their London hotel on Saturday evening, told Pakistani cricket officials they are innocent of the allegations and are ready to face an investigation.

The “News of the World” tabloid has named four Pakistani players and three others of being involved in a spot-fixing racket.

The tabloid alleged that a Pakistani businessman Mazhar Majeed had paid bribes to the players to bowl no-balls and wides in the series and in the Lords test.

Scotland Yard detectives conducting a criminal investigation into allegations of a conspiracy to fix an international cricket match will re-interview three Pakistan players this week, the Guardian reports.

On Saturday, Butt, Asif and Amir handed over their mobile phones to detectives. Police also took away other items for examination including cash, laptops and documents.

Officers from the economic and specialist crime command will question the players again before the weekend.

Butt, Amir and Asif are expected to attend a meeting in London on Thursday with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt, which would mean they miss their side’s friendly match with Somerset that day.