Ijaz Butt-England Face Pakistan Amid New Allegations

Ijaz Butt-England Face Pakistan Amid New Allegations:

England face Pakistan at Lord’s today after a flurry of new match-fixing allegations over the weekend.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has alleged some England players accepted “enormous amounts of money” to lose Friday’s third one-day international at The Oval.

The tourists won by 23 runs to reduce their deficit in the series to 2-1.

The England and Wales Cricket Board are aware of the claims from Mr Butt. They have yet to respond and are considering whether to react.

A spokesman for the International Cricket Council said the world body was unaware of the PCB chairman’s claims.

It remains to be seen whether there is any reaction to Mr Butt’s allegations from within the England dressing room.

As it stood overnight, today’s match was set to go ahead, and the end of the one-day international series will be at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

Mr Butt said on NDTV television in Pakistan: “There is loud and clear talk in bookie circles that some English players have taken enormous amounts of money to lose the match [the third ODI]. No wonder there was such a collapse.”

When asked whether the PCB had any proof of the allegations regarding English players, Mr Butt responded with a question.

He said: “Did you ask the other people who made allegations against our players whether they had any proof? What did they say?

“We have thought about this properly and we have positive proofs here before us just like they say they have also.”

England captain Andrew Strauss had earlier indicated the hosts would seek to complete the five-match series as scheduled.

He said he would look to convert their lead into a series victory today.

The continuation of the matches was in doubt for several hours on Saturday, after the ICC announced another investigation.

They said they would look at “a certain scoring pattern” during Pakistan’s win over England at The Oval the previous day.

That constituted fresh allegations against the Pakistan team – who have already lost the services of Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif.

All three were charged and suspended by the ICC following reports they were involved in a plot to bowl no-balls to order in the Lord’s Test.

Strauss said: “All the players will be quite relieved when this series is over and done with – there’s no doubt about that.”

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