LONDON // The former Pakistan cricket captain Salman Butt agreed to score no runs in an over during a Test match against England last year as part of a "spot-fixing" scam, a court in London heard yesterday.
Prosecutors said Mr Butt, 26, confirmed in a telephone call with his agent, a conversation recorded by an undercover journalist, that he would bat out a maiden in the third Test at the Oval in August 2010.
Mr Butt is on trial with the fast bowler Mohammad Asif, 28, on charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, and conspiracy to cheat at gambling. They have both pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Aftab Jafferjee, told Southwark Crown Court that Butt's agent, Mazhar Majeed, rang the journalist from the now-closed News of the World, after an earlier arrangement for no-balls to be bowled in exchange for £10,000 (Dh56,000) fell through.
In what Mr Jafferjee said was "potentially damning evidence concerning Salman Butt directly", a plan emerged for Mr Butt to bat out a maiden in the first full over he faced.
The journalist said that could happen in any case and that he wanted proof, so Mr Majeed called Mr Butt on his other phone and put it on loudspeaker so the reporter could hear.
"You know the maiden we were doing in the first over?" Mr Majeed said.
"Yeah", Mr Butt replied. Mr Majeed then tried to get him to do another in his third over, but Mr Butt did not want to, the jury heard.
The following day Mr Majeed met the journalist, then texted Mr Butt four times to remind him to tap the middle of the pitch after the second ball he faced as a signal that he would bat out that over.
Mr Jafferjee said that that day, "as events transpired at The Oval, matters were somewhat out of Butt's control", as he had come in to bat earlier than expected, faced a new ball and had to take a single run.
The journalist had pressed Mr Majeed on why the promise he had paid for had not materialised. Mr Majeed explained and the reporter said he wanted a no-ball or something from Mr Butt.
Mr Majeed said he could have two "brackets" for £150,000 in the next Test at Lord's. A bracket is where bets are made on incidents during a certain period of play, for example 10 overs.
"As events would prove, he got a bit of both: no-balls from Asif and Aamer which could not have taken place without Butt's complete involvement," Mr Jafferjee said.
The young Pakistan bowler Mohammad Aamer and Mr Majeed have also been charged with the same offences but are not standing trial alongside Mr Butt and Mr Asif.
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Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
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Name: Kumulus Water
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Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
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Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
McIlroy's struggles in 2016/17
European Tour: 6 events, 16 rounds, 5 cuts, 0 wins, 3 top-10s, 4 top-25s, 72,5567 points, ranked 16th
PGA Tour: 8 events, 26 rounds, 6 cuts, 0 wins, 4 top-10s, 5 top-25s, 526 points, ranked 71st
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