Fourth Pakistan player being investigated - newspaper

Lords test between Pak and England

The British tabloid, in a series of revelations on various fixing episodes on Pakistan Cricket players, made a fresh claim on Saturday that a fourth Pakistan player was under investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over match-fixing allegations. The News of the World newspaper said in a statement that is also available on its website it was not naming the player for legal reasons. It also said it would make sensational revelations on Sunday including the name of the fourth player under investigation. It is known that the ICC suspended the Pakistan test captain Salman Butt and opening bowlers Asif and Amir under its anti-corruption code, for committing spot-fixing by throwing deliberate noballs in a test match against England.

British metropolitan police have questioned the trio after The News of the World reported last Sunday that they had fixed incidents in the fourth test against England at Lord's. Pakistan’s opening batsman Yasir Hameed claimed in another development that some of its team mates were fixing almost every match. He said he was saved by god pointing out that he refused for wrongdoing even though he was offered huge amounts. "Scotland Yard was after them for ages," Hameed told the tabloid as per the tabloid report.

An ICC spokesman said the world governing body would not comment on the allegation that another player was being investigated as the investigations were on going. A police spokesman said there were no new developments in their case. Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan one-day captain, apologised on behalf of the team before Sunday's Twenty20 international against England in Cardiff. "On behalf of these players, I know they are not in this series, but on behalf of these boys I want to say sorry to all cricket lovers and all the cricketing nations."