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Cricketer Amir's fix claim rejected by sentencing judge


Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir's claim he was involved in fixing only at one match has been rejected by a judge.

Amir, 19, pleaded guilty to plotting to bowl no-balls in a Lord's Test and said it was a "one-off event" but the judge said text messages suggested otherwise.

Amir is being sentenced along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, who have been convicted of a betting scam.

It can now be reported that UK-based sports agent Mazhar Majeed, 36, also pleaded guilty to corruption offences.

Former captain Butt, 27, and fast bowler Asif, 28, were both found guilty on Tuesday at Southwark Crown Court of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments.

At a pre-trial hearing in September, Majeed admitted conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to make corrupt payments.

All four are facing the prospect of jail terms.

At a pre-trial hearing in September, Amir's lawyers agreed a basis of plea with prosecutors when he admitted to the same charges as Butt and Asif.

The plea noted: "The defendant's involvement was limited to the final Test match at Lord's on August 26 and 27.

"This was the defendant's first and only involvement, and was therefore an isolated and one-off event.
Salman Butt (left) and Mohammad Asif Salman Butt (left) and Mohammad Asif were found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of corruption

"The defendant only became involved as a result of pressure (not amounting to physical threats) and influence to the effect that if he did not become involved, he would suffer serious professional implications for his future career."

But Mr Justice Cooke dismissed Amir's claim that he was not involved in fixing before the game at Lord's in north London.

He told the court: "I refuse to accept that basis of plea on the material I have seen.

"There are certainly texts and the like which suggest that Amir's first and only involvement was not limited to Lord's, it was not an isolated and one-off event.

"What I have in mind are the various texts relating to the Oval Test."

The BBC's sports correspondent James Pearce - who was at the court hearing - said the judge wanted to know who had put pressure on him. However, Amir's lawyers said he did not want to blame anybody else and would not be naming names.

Our correspondent added that Butt could be in for the stiffest sentence as the captain's role was a more significant one.

Really glad to hear the judge didn't believe his BS about this being the first time.