ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio USA

London, Sep 1 (IBNS)  Three Pakistani players, who were denied practice on Tuesday, are to be quizzed by the Pakistan Cricket Board and Scotland Yard later on Wednesday on the alleged match fixing issue as the International Cricket Council (ICC) insisted on having their names cleared before England and Pakistan T20 and ODIs begin this week.

Captain Salman Butt and pacers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir will be questioned by PCB's chairman Ijaz Butt and the country's High Commissioner at the latter's office here.

ICC's chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the governing body will take action against the players found guilty in the 'spot-fixing' scam before they take to the field in the current tour of England.

Lorgat said he would meet PCB boss Ijaz Butt and take his views on the cricket scam, that dented the game's reputation.

He said he was very disappointed by the turn of events.

ICC, he said, has "zero tolerance" policy for corruption in cricket and any player involved in any wrong-doing will be strictly punished.

The  Scotland Yard investigators had already questioned the tainted players and would like to do so for the second time after the UK tabloid, News of the World, showed video footage of a middleman, Mazhar Majeed, accepting thousands of pounds from an undercover reporter.

In return, Majeed promised to have three no-balls bowled at certain times at the Lord's test match. The no-balls did play out exactly as promised by Majeed, who was arrested on Saturday and then released on bail on Sunday.

The raging controversy over the "spot fixing" and pressures from many quarters forced Pakistan team manger Yawar Saeed to take the three players away from Taunton practice session on Tuesday as Pakistan face a friendly against Somerset.

Wicket keeper Kamran Akmal was also allegedly involved in the scam and was questioned at their London hotel.

ICC also reportedly requested PCB to drop the three players as many England cricketers were reluctant to play against them, though the England cricket board was not specific.

"There is a case going on with the Scotland Yard. This is only an allegation. There is still no charge or proof on that account. So at this stage there will be no action taken," PCB chairman Butt said.