Cricket:The three players at the centre of cricket's spot-fixing allegations — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer — are to return home to Pakistan from England today, their lawyers said.
The three men — charged under the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Code and currently suspended by their sport’s world governing body — were questioned by British police under caution last week.
Their solicitors Addleshaw Goddard this morning released a statement, on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the three players.
The statement read: “The Metropolitan Police has been notified that Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt will return to Pakistan later this morning.
“The players are looking forward to being reunited with their families. They remain available to co-operate fully with the police investigation and have each given undertakings to return to the UK if required to do so.”
The statement also denied reports that Asif will seek asylum in the UK. Pakistan, meanwhile, were set to continue their tour of England with the first One Day International match against their hosts in Durham today.
Heavy overnight and morning rain resulted in a delayed start to the match and the full covers were still in place half-an-hour before the scheduled 10.15 start. But improving weather and a favourable forecast raised hopes that at least the majority of the 100 overs would be possible.