Pakistan players accused of treason

[sonicboom]

Pakistan players accused of treason

By staff writers and AFP From: NewsCore August 31, 2010 1:01PM

Treason charges filed against cricketers
"Fixed matches for money in England"
Treason charges carry death penalty

A PAKISTANI lawyer today filed treason charges against several national cricket team players facing an investigation into claims they fixed matches for money in England - a charge with carries the death penalty.

Lawyer Ishtiaq Ahmed told AFP: "In my petition to the court I've said that this spot-fixing amounts to dishonesty to the nation and falls under the law of treason.

"The suspected players have let the whole nation down and abrogated the constitution of the country and if they are proven guilty they should be banned for life and their assets confiscated."

The case will be heard in the Lahore High Court today.

The scandal broke when Britain's News of the World newspaper claimed last Monday it had paid fixer Mazhar Majeed STG150,000 ($258,000) for advance details of three Pakistan no-balls at Lord's as part of a sting operation.

Majeed, a 35-year-old who is an agent for several Pakistan players, was arrested by police on suspicion ofconspiracy to defraud bookmakers in the wake of the report but was released on bail last Monday.

Scotland Yard interviewed Pakistan captain Salman Butt and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal plus star strike bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, who bowled the no-balls - normally an accidental and unpredictable occurrence - in question.

Butt, Asif and 18-year-old Aamer all had their mobile phones seized.

Pakistan lost the fourth Test by an innings and 225 runs - their heaviest Test defeat - and with it the series 3-1 at Lord's on Monday.


Pakistan players accused of treason | Herald Sun