Sharad Pawar held talks at his home in New Delhi with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt to discuss allegations that Pakistan players were paid to bowl deliberate no-balls during a match in England last month.
“We will never tolerate any nonsense or corruption in the game of cricket. We want to maintain the sanctity of cricket,” Pawar, who is also India’s agriculture minister, told reporters after the 90-minute talks.
Since the allegations were made, the ICC has been under fierce attack from critics who say it has failed to tackle corruption and illegal gambling in the sport.
Pakistan players Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt have all written to the ICC saying they will defend themselves over disciplinary action brought against them over the claims, their lawyers confirmed this week.
Ijaz Butt said they would remain suspended until a probe by British police was completed.
“The matter is under investigation. Until that investigation is completed, we cannot comment on it,” he said. “The ICC has suspended the players. Unless the suspension is removed, they cannot play.”
Pakistan’s tour of England has been overshadowed by newspaper allegations of a betting scam involving no-balls being deliberately bowled in the fourth Test at Lord’s.
