British police arrest man amid Pakistan cricket match-fixing charges

Members of Pakistan's cricket team faced allegations of match-fixing on Sunday after British police arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers. 

Reuters

The controversy erupted after the News of the World - Britain's biggest-selling newspaper - alleged some Pakistani players were involved in a betting scam in the ongoing fourth and final Test against England at the Lord's cricket ground.

The report, backed up by video, claimed several blatant no-balls had been delivered by Pakistan bowlers.

The paper also ran a photograph of Pakistan captain Salman Butt standing with the man they claimed was the middleman and one of its reporters.

The weekly tabloid said it gave 150,000 pounds (185,000 euros) to a middle man who correctly told them in advance precisely when the deliveries would be bowled.

"Following information received from the News of the World we have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers," a spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said.

Despite the controversy, the International Cricket Council (ICC) insisted the fourth Test would continue as scheduled on Sunday, adding that no "players nor team
officials have been arrested in relation to this incident".