Pakistan report expected in days

The International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat hopes a report into spot-fixing claims against some of Pakistan's players will be ready soon.

The ICC's anti-corruption is preparing the report, while police carry out a separate criminal investigation.

There is no indication the four players questioned - Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal - are facing suspension at this stage.

The ICC has also stated that Pakistan's tour of England will continue.

"It is the desire of the ICC and the cricket boards of England and Pakistan that the game should continue," ICC president Sharad Pawar said.

Pakistan are due to play Somerset in a tour match from Thursday before playing the first of two Twenty20 internationals against England on Sunday - by which time the ICC hopes to have made its initial report.

"The reputation of the game has been tarnished and it is something we must make right. There is no question that people's confidence will have been swayed," Lorgat said.

"Hopefully we can reach a conclusion by the weekend.

"We are working hard, but it's important to remember that an individual is innocent until proven guilty."

Test captain Butt, fast bowlers Amir and Asif and wicketkeeper Akmal were questioned by police at the team's hotel in London on Sunday following a report that some Pakistan players had been bribed to fix incidents during the fourth Test against England at Lord's.

The allegations centred on three no-balls from Amir and Asif which the News of the World newspaper said had been bowled on purpose at pre-determined times to facilitate betting coups after a "middle man" accepted £150,000 in cash from an undercover reporter.

Pakistan's team manager Yawar Saeed (right) and team captain Salman Butt

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Pakistan's team manager Yawar Saeed: "No allegations are true til they are proved"

The man identified as the alleged go-between, cricket agent Mazhar Majeed, 35, has been released on police bail after being arrested on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

Investigators from the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit are already in the UK conducting enquiries of their own as well as "assisting London's Metropolitan Police with their criminal investigation. "

"If any players are found to be guilty, the ICC will ensure that the appropriate punishment is handed out. We will not tolerate corruption in this great game," revealed Lorgat in a statement earlier.

On Monday, the Pakistan team coach left London for Taunton ahead of the match against Somerset. Pakistan are then due to continue their tour with the two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals against England in September.

Test captain Butt - the one-day side is led by Shahid Afridi - boarded the coach with Amir, Asif and Akmal, plus the rest of his team-mates, despite calls from a number of quarters for the quartet to be suspended from the final part of the tour pending investigations.

There were audible, but isolated, shouts of abuse from at least one member of the public after a crowd gathered to watch the players leave London.

If, unfortunately, there is a truth then ruthless actions will be taken ICC president Sharad Pawar

Somerset chief executive Richard Gould said he expected the team to receive a "warm welcome" on Thursday.

He added: "They have a net session booked in for Wednesday and if they want anything else we will be happy to provide it. This game has been looked forward to by many of our supporters and members and we think they will give the Pakistan team a warm welcome."

Pakistan's team manager Yawar Saeed revealed there were "sober feelings" in the dressing room, but added: "No allegations are true til they are proved."