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Pakistani cricketers to leave the UK

Pa
Friday 10 September 2010 09:38 BST
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Three Pakistani cricketers questioned by police over match-fixing claims will leave the UK today, police said.

But Scotland Yard said the men - understood to be Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer - had agreed to return to assist the inquiry in "due course".

The men were questioned following claims of match fixing published in the News of the World.

A police spokesman said: "We can confirm that we have been made aware that the three Pakistani cricketers interviewed under caution on Friday September 3 intend to leave the United Kingdom today and have given an undertaking through their solicitor to return to assist the Metropolitan Police Service inquiry in due course."

The corruption controversy has engulfed the Pakistan cricket team during its tour of England.

Businessman Mazhar Majeed is accused of accepting £150,000 to arrange for Butt, Asif and Aamer to deliberately bowl no-balls during the fourth Test at Lord's.

Butt, Asif and Aamer have been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC). All three deny any wrongdoing.

Majeed has also been arrested and released on bail without charge.

Addleshaw Goddard, the solicitors acting for Butt, Asif and Aamer, released a statement on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the three players.

The statement read: "The players are looking forward to being reunited with their families. They remain available to co-operate fully with the police investigation and have each given undertakings to return to the UK if required to do so."

The statement also denied reports that Asif would seek asylum in the UK.

Pakistan, meanwhile, were set to continue their tour of England with the first NatWest Series match against their hosts in Chester-le-Street today.

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