Pakistan parliament to probe spot-fixing allegations

Pakistan's parliamentarians will begin their own probe into 'spot-fixing' allegations against some of the country's leading cricketers from next week.

Pakistan's parliamentarians will begin their own probe into 'spot-fixing' allegations against some of the country's leading cricketers from next week.

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Iqbal Muhammad Ali, chairman of the National Assembly's standing committee on sports, said on Monday that his committee will discuss the issue at a meeting which will be called soon after Oct 1.

Ali said that the allegations against three Pakistan cricketers -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -- are of a serious nature which is why the committee will summon Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, team manager Yawar Saeed, one-day captain Shahid Afridi and chief selector Mohsin Khan for the meeting.

Butt, Asif and Aamer are under investigation by the Scotland Yard for alleged corruption and face a life ban if found guilty. They have already been suspended by the International Cricket Council.

The trio were accused of 'spot-fixing' by a British newspaper following Pakistan's fourth and final Test against England at Lord's late last month. Asif and Aamer were accused of bowling deliberate no-balls on the instructions of Salman Butt, Pakistan's Test captain. The players insist they are innocent.