Nothing else will do: Pak players sent behind bars

Former captain Salman Butt received two and a half years,Mohammad Asif one year,while 19-year-old Mohammad Amir will serve six months. Agent Mazhar Majeed was sentenced to two years,eight months.

The players were found guilty of conspiring with Majeed to bowl no-balls as part of a betting scam during a Test match against England at Lords in August last year.

Judge Jeremy Cooke,who presided over the trial,said the offences were so serious that only a sentence of imprisonment will suffice to mark the nature of the crimes. The quartet showed little emotion.

Amir is to be sent to a young offenders institute. Butts solicitor and Amirs lawyer intend to appeal.

Holding Butt responsible for involving Amir,the judge said: An 18-year-old from a poverty-stricken village background,very different to your own privileged one,who,whilst a very talented bowler,would be inclined to do what his senior players,and particularly his captain told him.