Spot-fixing controversy Mazhar Majeed released on bail

Spot-fixing controversy

Mazhar Majeed released on bail

Mazhar Majeed, the man at the centre of the Pakistan team's spot-fixing scandal, was released on bail by Scotland Yard on Monday, but will have to appear before the police at a later date. The police force refused to discuss the bail conditions or details of their investigative interviews with Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, whose mobile phones they had confiscated.

"He is obliged to return for further questioning at a specified date," a Scotland Yard spokesman told Cricinfo. However, he refused to confirm what date that would be.

Majeed had been arrested on Saturday, following the expose that claimed he was paid £150,000 to arrange a fix with the Pakistan team. He was caught on camera by the News of the World claiming to have bribed Pakistan's bowlers to bowl no-balls at previously agreed moments during the Lord's Test.

A Pakistan team official confirmed to Cricinfo that the whole squad would be leaving London on Monday to travel to Taunton - a day earlier than scheduled after the four-day finish to the final Test - to prepare for the limited-overs matches. They are due to play a warm-up match against Somerset on Thursday before travelling to Cardiff for the first of two Twenty20 internationals on September 5.

Richard Gould, the Somerset chief executive, said the county was preparing as normal for the team's arrival. "We are expecting them in the next 12-24 hours," he told Cricinfo. "They are due to train on Wednesday, but if they need anything before then they'll have the use of the indoor school and gym. We hope to give them the best chance to prepare for the one-day series."

Gould added that the club would be implementing the security plans they used during the World Twenty20 last year when Taunton hosted the women's group matches, but that wasn't a response to events of the last 24 hours.

"We aren't looking at increasing the security presence," he said. "We had already decided to implement the plans from last year because it was a high-profile side visiting and the model we used at the World Twenty20 was drawn up to cater for such events."

There are a number of fresh faces joining up with the squad for the one-day leg of the tour, including Shahid Afridi who returns as captain in place of Salman Butt having given up the leadership following the first Test against Australia, at Lord's, in July. Six players who aren't involved are returning to Pakistan with Imran Farhat, Raza Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Tanvir Ahmed, Umar Amin and Yasir Hameed not included for the Twenty20 and ODIs.

Sharad Pawar, the ICC president, said the game's governing body would wait for the police report on the issue before deciding on a course of action. "Until and unless the process of investigation is over, it is improper for me to react," Pawar said on Monday. "We have discussed it within the ICC and have decided to wait for the police's investigation report. After that we have to take a viewpoint of the two boards."

Pawar is scheduled to hold a conference call with other board chiefs later on Monday.

Many boards have already reacted, some of them airing concerns over the fate of planned series against Pakistan. New Zealand Cricket appealed for a swift resolution to the issue to avoid any fallout on Pakistan's year-end tour of the country . "Justice needs to be done, but also swiftly to stop this dragging on," New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan told TV3 News. "It's very important that we have their best team and that we prepare as well as possible for the World Cup which immediately follows the tour."

Pakistan will play three Twenty20 matches, two Tests and six one-day internationals against New Zealand between December 26 and early February.

The BCCI said the matter was for the PCB and ICC to handle. "The BCCI has got nothing to do with it," its media and finance committee chairman Rajiv Shukla said. "Even if some Indian bookies are involved, the Indian police will look into the matter."

Yawar Saeed, the touring side's manager denied that the allegations proved that Pakistan cricket was institutionally corrupt. "I would not like to say that. Yes, one has heard and one has read [the allegations], but I would not like to go that far," said Saeed, insisting that the tour itinerary would continue as planned.

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