Tainted trio to be quizzed but won't be arrested

KARACHI: Pakistan's tainted trio of Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir will be quizzed by Scotland Yard for the second time today but they are not in danger of being arrested, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed had yesterday said that the trio would only face a PCB internal inquiry at the High Commission in London today but it has now emerged that they will be questioned by Scotland Yard for the second time in the 'spot-fixing' scandal.

He said no player has been charged as yet nor any case registered against them and they are available for the forthcoming Twenty20 and one-day series.

"As it stands now, the players have only been questioned by Scotland Yard. No one has been charged neither has Scotland Yard found any incriminating evidence against any player," the official said.

"We have hired a barrister to assist the players and will be present when they meet with Scotland Yard detectives today.

The questioning is part of routine investigation but all the players who are being questioned are available for selection and play in the coming series," he added.

A spokesman for the High Commission's office in London also said that no player had been charged and was in danger of being arrested.

"These players are very much part of the touring team and can play in the series. There is no suspension on them.

Neither has anyone formally charged them," the spokesman said.

"The tour is on and the PCB has no intention of either sending back any player or calling off the tour. The PCB and the High Commission are extending all support and cooperation to the investigation," the the spokesman said.

He said the High Commission had also asked Scotland Yard to provide it with a preliminary report on the investigations.

The tainted trio were yesterday barred from team practice at Taunton and asked to proceed to London amidst reports that they would be questioned by Scotland Yard though team manager Yawar Saeed said that they would only face a PCB internal inquiry at the High Commission.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat yesterday said that Scotland Yard and the ICC anti-corruption and security unit were busy gathering forensic evidence and piecing them together.