London, Nov 1 (IANS) Pakistan’s former captain Salman Butt was held guilty on two counts – conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and cheat – while fast bowler Mohammad Asif was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat by the Southwark Crown Court here Tuesday.
The duo had denied conspiracy to cheat and accept corrupt payments but the jury at the Southwark Crown Court here found them guilty of conspiring to cheat.
The verdicts came on the 20th day of the trial and required 16 hours of deliberation from the 12-man jury. The judge is likely to hand down the sentencing Thursday.
The verdicts were reached on three of the four charges, but the jury were divided on the fourth charge and returned to debate whether Asif accepted corrupt payments. The duo plotted to deliberately bowl no-balls during a Lord’s Test match in 2010 against England. Bowler Mohammad Amir had already pleaded guilty to the charges.
Butt faces up to a maximum of seven years in prison for his role during the spot-fixing scam which was exposed following a sting operation by the now-defunct newspaper News of the World.
Former ICC president Ehsan Mani, a Pakistani, said the two players should set an example for others.
‘These two players should be made an example for others. It is a strong message to PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board). Things were not in order. It is not acceptable for everyone, including the cricket lovers of Pakistan. However, I feel the menace is not confined to Pakistan. The cricketers of other countries are also involved,’ he said.
