Photo: AFP

Pakistani cricketer Salman Butt (R) is escorted by a policeman through a scrum of media outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, 2 Sept. 2010.

The trio of Pakistan players at the center of fixing allegations dominating world cricket will not continue in their series against England.

Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif vowed to clear their names in a meeting in London with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt and Wajid Hasan, Pakistan's ambassador to Britain.

The scandal began with a grainy video of a man counting cash that a London tabloid, the News of the World, alleges is a cricket agent taking bribes to help fix a cricket match between England and Pakistan. British and Pakistani investigators are looking into three Pakistan cricket team players who are suspected of involvement in the scheme.

Wajid Hasan said the three players maintain their innocence.

"They further maintain that on account of the mental torture that has deeply affected them all, they are not in the right frame of mind to play the remaining matches," said Hasan.

The International Cricket Council stated it has zero tolerance for corruption.

It has been reported that England's team did not want to play Pakistan if the three men were on the squad.

Pakistan Coach Yawar Saeed said the cricketers have not been banned, but will be replaced for the rest of the tour.

"The investigations are being made by Scotland Yard and ICC and others. All I am talking about is the team that I am managing, Saeed said. "And the team that today is 13 will become 16 again with replacements."

The head of England's Cricket Board, Giles Clarke, welcomed Pakistan's decision about the three players.

"We look forward to an extremely competitive series full of excellent cricket, and we can assure cricket fans across the country that matches will be played in the most competitive spirit long associated with contests between England and Pakistan," Clarke said.

No matter the outcome of the investigations the scandal is creating the perception that something is wrong with cricket, long known here as the gentleman's game.

Photo: AFP

Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Aamer, (L) Mohammad Asif (Back C) and captain Salman Butt (R) leave the team hotel in Taunton, in southwest England, 1 Sept. 2010

Three Pakistan cricket players accused of taking part a betting scandal have been charged by the International Cricket Council under its anti-corruption code and suspended until an investigation into the case is concluded.

The ICC charged team captain Salman Butt, and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir under article two of its anti-corruption code which deals with fixing and betting. The council's chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, expressed his extreme disappointment and sadness about the situation but reiterated the council's zero tolerance policy on match-fixing.

"We have been clear that we will not tolerate any sort of corruption within the sport," Lorgat said Friday. "Upholding the integrity of cricket is paramount, is fundamental to every single one of us and we will do whatever is necessary to insure that we maintain integrity in the sport."

Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Aamer, (L) Mohammad Asif (Back C) and captain Salman Butt (R) leave the team hotel in Taunton, in southwest England, 1 Sept. 2010

Three Pakistan cricket players accused of taking part a betting scandal have been charged by the International Cricket Council under its anti-corruption code and suspended until an investigation into the case is concluded.

The ICC charged team captain Salman Butt, and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir under article two of its anti-corruption code which deals with fixing and betting. The council's chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, expressed his extreme disappointment and sadness about the situation but reiterated the council's zero tolerance policy on match-fixing.

"We have been clear that we will not tolerate any sort of corruption within the sport," Lorgat said Friday. "Upholding the integrity of cricket is paramount, is fundamental to every single one of us and we will do whatever is necessary to insure that we maintain integrity in the sport."

Pakistani cricket scandal

The match-fixing scandal involving three Pakistani cricket players is growing, following new allegations from a former teammate and claims that a fourth player is under scrutiny.

Britain's News of the World reports Pakistani batsman Yasir Hameed told the tabloid that fellow players have been fixing almost every match, taking hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time.

He also said that he had been offered money to throw matches, but had refused.

Hameed denied late Saturday that he ever spoke to News of the World, but the paper has posted video of the interview on the its website.

Separately, the tabloid said a fourth Pakistani player is being investigated.

The International Cricket Council refused to comment on the report.

The latest allegations come as Pakistan prepares to play Britain in a one-day match Sunday.

Pakistani team captain Salman Butt as well as fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have already been barred them from any cricket-related activities until further notice, and will face corruption charges from the International Cricket Council.

British police officials questioned the players Friday and have confiscated their mobile phones.

The three Pakistani stars have maintained their innocence. They are accused of agreeing to bowl no-balls (make illegal throws) at predetermined points during key matches - an arrangement that could result in huge profits for bettors aware of the spot-fixing plot.

If they are found guilty of corruption by the cricket council, they could be banned for life.

Pakistan's ambassador to Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, has criticized the ICC and said he believes the players are innocent.