Pakistan match-fixing charges to be decided by Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service

LONDON, Nov 10 (APP): The British Police officers probing spot fixing allegations against suspended Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir will meet the Crown Prosecution Service this week to discuss whether charges can be levelled at the trio. The investigation was launched in September after the three were implicated in a spot-fixing sting carried out by the News of the World, with Amir and Asif allegedly bowling no-balls on the orders of agent Mazher Majeed. The Metropolitan Police passed a second file of evidence relevant to the players and Majeed to the CPS last week. This week’s discussion will determine whether further investigation is required or if the CPS has enough to bring charges, reports ‘The Telegraph.’ Majeed was arrested, while the players were questioned under caution by the police in September and allowed to leave the country after giving an undertaking that they would return to face further questions if required. A second investigation by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs into alleged money laundering by Majeed is ongoing. It is understood that Majeed’s ownership of Ryman League club Croydon Athletic FC has formed part of the investigation. A key issue for the police and CPS will be what charges, if any, they choose to pursue. Last month the provisional ICC suspensions against Butt and Amir were upheld after they failed in an appeal. The pair and Asif, who withdrew his appeal against the suspension, will now face an ICC disciplinary hearing on a date to be confirmed.