ICC Started Probe Before Lord's Test

Cardiff: Pakistan's cricketers were being investigated by the ICC for fixing in a one-day series even before their contentious fourth Test against England last month.

The International Cricket Council suspended three players last week after charging them under its anti-corruption code but had already written to two players to ask for telephone records as part of an investigation into possible contact with bookmakers.

Britain's newspapers widely reported that Test captain Salman Butt and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal were the players contacted.

Butt is one of three players suspended last week for the ICC on suspicion of fixing by arranging for deliberate no-balls to be bowled against England during the fourth Test at Lord's.

Pakistan plays England in the teams' second Twenty20 in Cardiff on Tuesday.

"There will be absolutely no comment," team manager Yawar Saeed said when asked about the investigation. "I am not going to say anything on the allegations. They are there and we are here, getting on with our jobs on the tour."

A phone call to Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt went unanswered.

Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were suspended Thursday following a scandal that came to light nine days ago following an undercover sting operation by the News of the World newspaper.

All three could face life bans, if found guilty. The suspensions relate only to the fourth Test against England, which began August 26.

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