Sport

LONDON (AP): Police are questioning Pakistan's cricket team over newspaper allegations of match-fixing during the current Test match against England at Lord's, the team's manager said yesterday.

"I can confirm that we are aware of the allegations and Scotland Yard police are with us now at the hotel and we are helping them with their enquiries," team manager Yawar Saeed told The Associated Press. "This is as much as I can say at the moment."

British newspaper The News of the World alleged in its Sunday edition that Pakistan's players were secretly paid to deliberately bowl no-balls during the fourth and final Test against England as part of a betting scam.

Secret footage

The newspaper says it has secretly filmed video footage of its under-cover reporters posing as front men for a Far East gambling cartel, in discussion with a man who appears to accept $150,000 (US$232,000) in order to make sure no-balls are bowled at certain times during the match.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: "Following information received from The News of the World, we have today arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers."

The News of the World says it has passed all its evidence to the police.

Pakistan needs to win the final Test against England at Lord's to salvage a draw in the four-match series, but it faces an uphill task after scoring just 74 in reply to England's first innings total of 446.