Jury sent home for weekend in Pakistan trial

The jury in the trial of Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were yesterday sent home for the weekend by the judge after a second day of deliberations failed to produce a verdict.

They will return to Southwark Crown Court on Monday morning to resume their discussions.

The trial will now go into a fifth week. The six men and six women heard 17 days of evidence in which the prosecution allege that Butt and Asif conspired with Mohammad Amir, a third member of the Pakistan team, and Mazhar Majeed, their British agent, to bowl three deliberate no-balls at pre-arranged times during the fourth Test against England at Lord's last summer.

Butt and Asif are charged with conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments, which carry custodial sentences. Both deny the charges.