Other website sections

»Sports Market Reports

»Sports Jobs

»Tenders

»Directory

»Conferences

Investigators from Pakistan are flying to London to look in to allegations that some of its cricketers were involved in a betting scam.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team will study claims that two players deliberately bowled no-balls during the final test against England at Lord's.

Former International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Malcolm Speed believes there is a "fairly compelling case" for Pakistan's suspension from world cricket.

The three members of the team from the FIA – Pakistan's highest law enforcement agency – will join Scotland Yard officers in investigating claims by the News of the World newspaper that it paid cricket agent Mazhar Majeed £150,000 to provide advance details of when three no-balls would be bowled.

Majeed has been released on police bail after being arrested on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

Four members of the Pakistan team – bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, along with captain Salman Butt and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal – have been questioned by police.

Despite growing pressure, the ICC has ruled out calls for action to be taken against the players until after the police investigation.

But ICC president Sharad Pawar warned: "If, unfortunately, there is a truth [in the allegations] then ruthless actions will be taken."

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed insisted cricket was not "institutionally corrupt" in his country, and said the claims were unproven.

A joint statement issued by the ICC, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board stressed that no player nor team official had been arrested.