Amir reports to police; Asif and Butt to be quizzed later

LONDON: Mohammad Amir, one of three Pakistan cricketers embroiled in betting scam claims, reported to a British police station on Friday.

Fast bowler Aamir arrived at Kilburn Police Station, near Lord’s cricket ground in north London, where he is expected to be interviewed by detectives.

Police are also expected to question Pakistan’s Test captain Salman Butt and Amir’s fellow bowler Mohammad Asif on Friday.

London’s Metropolitan Police offered no comment when contacted by AFP.

So far, police have bailed without charge a 35-year-old man arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers as part of their probe into the alleged “spot-fixing” scam surrounding the Pakistan team.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shaharyar Khan said criminal charges are unlikely to be upheld against the three players but civil charges are likely.

Khan said the evidence to uphold a civil case against Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt is “quite strong, but I don’t think it will be easy to prove criminal charges against our cricketers.”

“In most of these sting operations in which newspaper reporters change their identities, it’s not easy to prove criminal charges in the court of law.”

Zaheer Abbas, former Pakistan captain and team manager, said the ICC’s involvement did not bode well for the players.

“Before it was allegations, but now the ICC has taken a very tough step, which has raised the suspicions,” Abbas said.

“Our players couldn’t differentiate between friends and foes. I still hope that our players could come out clean.” —Agencies