According to sources, local authorities in the Caribbean have in their record several text messages sent and received by a few key national team players during the ICC World Twenty20.

“The authorities in two Caribbean islands where the Twenty20 World Cup was held have in their possession some text messages that were sent by the players to suspected bookies,” said a reliable source.

Pakistan went to the ICC World Twenty20 held in Barbados, Guyana and St Lucia early this summer as the defending champions and reached the semifinal after a few hiccups. They lost the semifinal against Australia from a seemingly winning position after off-spinner Saeed Ajmal bowled an extremely expensive last over.

Sources said that the players, who were monitored by authorities in the Caribbean, are also included on the list of suspects in the latest betting scandal to hit Pakistan cricket during the fourth and final Test against England here at Lord’s.

“There is a likelihood that the Lord’s Test scandal could turn into a bigger investigation. The authorities in Britain, currently probing into the allegations of spot-fixing against some of the Pakistan team players, could look for more evidence against the cricketers.”

Embroiled in what threatens to be a career-ending controversy for several of their players, Pakistan went through the motions and crashed to their worst ever Test defeat here at Lord’s on Sunday.

England  marched to a huge victory – by an innings and 225 runs – in the fourth and final Test to complete a 3-1 series triumph over Pakistan, who had for all practical purposes, lost the series finale on Saturday when they crashed for just 74 in the first innings and then lost four quick wickets after England forced follow-on.

Pakistan began the day at 41-4, facing the impossible task of keeping the English attack at bay during the last two days of the Test.

They took the field just about 15 hours after Scotland Yard officials visited their Swiss Cottage hotel and carried out investigations into a spot-fixing scandal that has rocked Pakistan cricket. Police questioned Pakistan players Saturday night after the News of the World newspaper alleged that bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls during Thursday's opening day of the fourth Test.

The News of the World says it secretly filmed its undercover reporters, posing as front men for a Far East gambling cartel, in discussion with a man it identifies as London-based businessman Mazhar Majeed, who appears to accept 150,000 British pounds ($232,000) in order to make sure no-balls are bowled at certain times during the match.

The newspaper says it has passed all its evidence to the police.

State run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan reported that Pakistan President Asif Ali Zaradari asked the PCB for a preliminary report into the allegations.

Pakistan arrived pretty late at Lord’s and didn’t take part in what is supposed to be a routine pre-match training session in the nets.

It ignited speculations that they might not take the field just like in the 2006 Test at The Oval when Inzamam-ul-Haq, the then captain, refused to resume play after being accused of ball-tampering by the onfield umpires.

But Pakistan didn’t take that option and were greeted with mute applause from the crowd. From 41-4, Pakistan soon slumped to 73-8, before young batsman Umar Akmal saved them from becoming the first team to crumble for less than 100 in the same Test with an aggressive fifty.

The first man to go was Azhar Ali (12), who was outdone by a sizzling delivery from Graeme Swann that held its line and clipped off stump.

Kamran Akmal’s woeful run with the bat continued when he edged James Anderson and was gloved by Matt Prior in the next over for just one. Mohammad Amir,  at  the center of the spot-fixing controversy, survived for just five balls, falling to Swann. Pakistan were now reeling at 65-7. Swann then had Wahab Riaz caught by Kevin Pietersen before Saeed Ajmal got run-out by a direct throw from Stuart Broad, leaving Pakistan at 97-9.

But Umar Akmal counterattacked and reached his 50 off just 40 balls, playing some aggressive shots including two massive sixers off Swann. He added 50 for the last wicket with Mohammad Asif but was stranded at the other end at 79 when Asif became Swann’s fifth victim. Umar’s unbeaten 79 came off 68 balls and included 11 fours and two sixes. It was the youngster’s first fifty of the four-Test series. Swann (5-62) took his ninth five-wicket haul.

The two teams will now meet again in the first of the two Twenty20 Internationals in Cardiff on Sept. 5. — With input from agencies