It has also emerged that the three will take no part in the limited-overs leg of Pakistan’s tour – set to start with a Twenty20 match against England in Cardiff on Sunday – officially at their own request, because of the stress of the past week.
But Hasan subsequently questioned whether or not the News of the World’s tapes of Croydon-based businessman Mazhar Majeed, apparently correctly identifying the exact time when no-balls would occur, should be taken at face value.
“We are not seeing on the video what the date is or what the time is,” he told the BBC . “The video wasn’t timed or dated. It could have been filmed before or after the match, or at a different time.”
Asked if he believes the three players might have been “set up”, he responded: “Yes, I would say that. Yes.”
Contacted about Hasan’s remarks, a News of the World spokesman said the tabloid will “refuse to respond to such ludicrous allegations”.
Further advice was to “watch this space” – an intriguing hint that more allegations may be in the offing for publication this weekend. Several hours before that response and Hasan’s statement at the Pakistan High Commission, it emerged in Taunton – scene of the tourists’ warm-up match against Somerset – that a compromise deal had apparently been reached to save the limited-overs matches, with time running out fast for a resolution acceptable to all parties.
Butt and seamers Asif and Aamer had their rooms searched by police and their mobile phones confiscated following Scotland Yard interviews at the team hotel in London last weekend.
Majeed was arrested on Saturday night, in connection with the newspaper allegations. He was questioned for 24 hours before being released on police bail without charge, only for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to subsequently make three more arrests.
It is understood the England and Wales Cricket Board lobbied hard for an agreement to leave the three players out of the rest of the tour – on behalf of a home squad reluctant to take the field against them.
A plausible reason was therefore required for their absence, and that was duly delivered by Hasan.
“The three players have said they are extremely disturbed by what has happened in the past week, especially in regard of their alleged involvement in the crime,” he said. “They mentioned that they are entirely innocent in the whole episode and shall defend their innocence as such.
“They maintain that, on
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