Justice John Saunders set the date at the latest hearing on
Friday into the allegations that predetermined no balls were bowled during a
test match against England last year.
Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad
Amir as well as their agent, Mazhar Majeed, have been charged with conspiracy
to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments. They weren't at
Southwark Crown Court on Friday.
The case centers on allegations first uncovered in a British
tabloid investigation that the players received money for deliberately bowling no
balls during the fourth Test against England in August.
Prosecutors disclosed at Friday's hearing that they are
trying to obtain transcripts from part of the International Cricket Council's
anti-corruption tribunal that led to the three players each being banned from
the sport for at least five years.
Butt, the captain during last year's series, received a
further suspended five-year ban and Asif, a fast bowler like Amir, was handed a
further two-year suspended sanction.
Majeed is accused of accepting 150, 000 pounds ($242,000)
during a sting by undercover newspaper reporters to arrange for the players to
bowl no balls.
Accepting corrupt payments is an offense under the
Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and carries a maximum sentence of seven years
imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
Cheating is an offense under the Gambling Act 2005 and
carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
