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Fans greet Pakistan players with boos and rotten tomatoes

August 30, 2010 12:16 IST

Reacting angrily to the match-fixing allegations, fans greeted the Pakistan cricket team with boos, jeers and pelted the team bus with rotten tomatoes as they used the stadium's back gate after crashing to a humiliating defeat by England at Lord's on Sunday.

Cricket agent Mazhar Majeed was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers over an alleged betting scam involving the Pakistan national team but was later released on bail.

British tabloid The News of the World claimed that it paid Majeed for advance details of when three no balls would be played in the fourth and final Test at Lord's.

In a sting operation carried out by the newspaper, the bookie was caught on tape saying that pacemen Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif had bowled three deliberate no-balls by pre-arrangement on the opening day of the fourth Test against England last Thursday. The practice is known as 'spot fixing'.

Police also questioned three Pakistan players over the alleged scam and detectives confiscated mobile phones of Amir, Asif and Pakistan captain Salman Butt.

Pakistan supporters also branded players at the centre of the allegations a "disgrace", the Daily Express reported.

Khushi Muhammad from Kent said there is a feeling of "shame" and "disappointment"

"It is a disgrace for the country and for the game. Amir is very talented. If the allegations are true it was not a wise move on his part," he added.

Faisal Ahmed, 31, an NHS practice manager, from Hampstead, said: "I have been following the cricket team all over the UK. It is an absolute disgrace. I came here to support this team and they have been cheating."

"Anyone who took money should be taken off the team immediately and never allowed to play again. It needs to be looked at from the management down. Amir's foot was so far over the line it is embarrassing and shameful," he said.

Source: ANI