Three arrested in Pakistan fixing investigation

It was another day of high drama on Tuesday in cricket's spot betting scandal with events unfolding quicker than a Pakistan batting collapse. It was confirmed that Mazhar Majeed, the man filmed by the News of the World allegedly accepting money on behalf of some of the Pakistan players, was one of three of people arrested on Sunday by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs [HMRC] into allegations of money laundering. Sources close to the HMRC say that they were on the tail of Majeed even before Sunday's extraordinary expose by the News of the World brought the matter into the public domain

Meanwhile the three players at the centre of the scandal – captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif (above) and Mohammad Amir – were questioned by police over the allegations and are almost certain to be axed from the remainder of the tour when they attend what is being described in some quarters as a "summit meeting" on Thursday (although rumours circulating suggest the meeting could be brought forward to Wednesday). Also present at the meeting will be Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, and the country's high commissioner, not to mention a small army of lawyers. A fourth player initially implicated in the furore, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, has been cleared of involvement and is free to play in Thursday's T20 match against Sunday, a warm-up for Sunday's T20 clash with England.

England's players are keen for the one-day series (two T20 matches and five 50-over games) to continued as scheduled but they are reportedly unhappy with the prospect of playing against any of the players named in the News of the World investigation. "We shouldn't call it off on the back of an investigation that is ongoing," said Broad, who scored his maiden Test century in the controversial Test at Lord's. "It is up to others to decide if any of the Pakistan players involved in those allegations should miss those games."

As for the allegations themselves, Broad expressed his astonishment at what has been disclosed in recent days, allegations that some of the Pakistan bowlers deliberately bowled no balls in return for money. "I never dreamt there was anything untoward about our victories," he said, adding: "I have absolutely no doubts that Pakistan were giving everything to try to win that match."

Though former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of those commentators to question whether the one-day series should go ahead in light of the police investigation, the chief executive of the ICC, Haroon Lorgat, insisted the series should continue, though he was quick to emphasise the ICC had no intention of sweeping the matter under the carpet. "Make no mistake, once the process is complete, if any players are found to be guilty, the ICC will ensure that the appropriate punishment is handed out," he said. "We will not tolerate corruption in this great game."

But in Pakistan there are already calls for any player found guilty of corruption to face a charge of treasons – a crime that carries a maximum sentence of death. Reports say that the Lahore High Court has summoned the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, the country's sports minister and seven players on September 7 to hear a petition calling for the players to face treason charges filed by lawyer Ishtiaq Ahmed. "I filed this petition because the players shamed the country and their millions of followers by getting embroiled in this spot-fixing controversy," Ahmed told reporters, though he seemed content to have any player found guilty banned for life and their asset seized, rather than being put to death. But as the allegations have yet to be proved it appears unlikely that the petition would be heard until a later date. ·