British police set to reveal findings in spot-fixing probe

ESPNcricinfo staff

Comments: Butt, the former Test captain, and seamers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been accused of conspiring in the bowling of deliberate no-balls on last year's tour of England - claims they all deny.

The trio could be banned for life when an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal announces its conclusions in Doha on Saturday, but a separate investigation by London's Metropolitan Police will be concluded a day earlier, when they find out if they face legal action in England.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that an announcement will be made at 11 a.m. GMT on Friday, although a CPS spokesperson said there was no connection between the two timings.

In August 2010, Britain's News of the World tabloid conducted a newspaper 'sting operation' which it said proved the Pakistan trio's willingness were involved in the deliberate bowling of no-balls during the Lord's Test against England.

This, the paper said, was evidence of a spot-betting scam where money can be gambled on specific incidents in a match without the need to 'fix' the result.

All the Pakistan trio were interviewed by police. So too was players' agent Mazhar Majeed, whom the newspaper alleged accepted £50,000 to set up the deal. Majeed was also arrested.

A third fast bowler, Wahab Riaz, was also interviewed under caution but it is not known why he will not be included in Friday's announcement.

While the ICC, which heard evidence from Butt, Asif and Amir during a hearing in Doha last month, has to consider whether its rules were broken and what, if any, punishment should follow if they were, the CPS must decide whether the players have a case to answer under English law.