Sports betting and corruption

Three Pakistan cricketers ordered to stand trial on corruption charges
By Rob Harris (CP)
LONDON — Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were ordered to stand trial in a British court Thursday over spot-fixing allegations that cast a shadow over the integrity of the sport.

The trio, along with their agent Mazhar Majeed, appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates Court for the first time since being charged with conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.

The case centres on allegations first uncovered in a British tabloid investigation that the players received money for deliberately bowling no-balls during the fourth Test against England in August.

Accepting corrupt payments is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Cheating is an offence under the Gambling Act 2005 and carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.