Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz will be interviewed by British police over the alleged spot-fixing scandal, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt said on Thursday.
But in another development, there are reports today that teammate Mohammad Asif is considering seeking asylum in the UK, so concerened is he at the prospect of being a target of criminal gangs. British newspaper The Daily Telegraph says the player has met lawyers to discuss how he might be able to stay in the UK.
Riaz questioned
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Left-armer Riaz, aged 25, who is in the squad for the upcoming one-day series against England, will be questioned on September 14.
"We have arranged for his interview as we will continue to cooperate and we want to get to the bottom of the matter," Butt told a press conference in Lahore.
Three other players under investigation in Britain over the matter can return home as no charges had been brought against them, Butt said.
Pakistan Test team captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif have been interrogated by police over claims that they took money to deliberately bowl no-balls against England at Lord's last month.
"Since the players have not been charged we have informed Scotland Yard that they will be travelling back to Pakistan within the next few days," Butt said.
The News of the World tabloid reported it had paid 150,000 pounds for advance knowledge of no-balls to be bowled by Pakistan in the Lord's Test, which could then be bet upon.
The newspaper published a video report showing Riaz taking a jacket from Mazhar Majeed -- an agent for several Pakistan players and the alleged middleman in the scam -- which had 10,000 pounds (15,400 dollars) in it.
Riaz was making only his second Test appearance in the match at Lord's, where he bowled two wides and eight no-balls.
Butt already home
Butt, who has been derided as an incompetent PCB chief by cricket fans in Pakistan, returned home to an angry reception at Lahore airport on Wednesday, with protesters chanting slogans against him.
Butt said a British police raid on the team's London hotel should not have taken place without the PCB's knowledge and that money recovered from the accused did not prove their guilt.
"(Salman) Butt got some cash for inaugurating an ice cream parlour and Aamer had 1,500 pounds (2,300 dollars) with him, so that was not incriminating evidence," he said.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provisionally suspended captain Butt and bowlers Aamer and Asif for violating a players' code of conduct over the corruption claims.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Geo television: "We have given an undertaking to the Scotland Yard police after which the three players can return home, but they will go back to Britain in case they are needed in Britain."
The Pakistan Cricket Board Thursday announced strict new guidelines for players hiring agents in light of the scandal.
"No Pakistani cricketer who is selected for any squad for local and international teams will be allowed to engage any agent/manager without the prior written approval of the PCB," said a press release.
"Failure to comply with these instructions will result in the player being declared ineligible for selection in future."
