India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The three Pakistan players in the dock for spot fixing – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir -- have been hit with a staggering 23 charges after a News of the World (NOTW) undercover investigation. The International Cricket Council (ICC) charges run to a massive six pages per player. According to the NOTW, Butt had previously been warned five times about his duty to report illegal approaches before the latest betting scandal. The three players and Majeed are the subject of a Scotland Yard investigation, with the Pakistan stars also facing the wrath of an ICC desperate to save their sport's battered reputation. Test captain Butt and veteran bowler Asif both face life bans, although there is a growing sense among ICC top brass that 18-year-old Amir should be dealt with more leniently. They have all been charged under Article 2 of the ICC's anti-corruption code, with Butt's charge sheet the longest of the three. In total, the charges run to 18 pages, which were handed to the players on Thursday night after the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit swooped. Meanwhile, Pakistan has insisted that nothing will stop them completing their tour of England , while England bosses will take a final decision this morning on the wisdom of carrying on.

Spot fixing: Pak cricketers hit by 23 charges