ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's interior minister on Tuesday hinted that spot-fixing allegations against its top cricketers in England could have been cooked up as part of a conspiracy against the national side.
But Rehman Malik also told reporters that if wrongdoing was proven the players would be dealt with harshly.
"If there is a conspiracy against our team to defame Pakistan then we would like to know the facts and we will exonerate ourselves," said Malik.
"But at the same time our whole leadership is agreed that if any player is found to be involved we will make an example out of him.
"We know that there have been many conspiracies against Pakistan cricket in the past and perhaps there will also be in future. We are keeping this in mind."
Seven Pakistani players are being investigated by Scotland Yard detectives on allegations of deliberating delivering three no-balls during the team's fourth and final Test against England, which Pakistan lost on Sunday.
Malik said his ministry had contacted a representative of Scotland Yard in Pakistan for information on progress in the investigation.
It follows a British Sunday tabloid newspaper sting in which a bookmaker allegedly paid Pakistani players to deliberately bowl the no-balls.
Britain's biggest-selling paper, the News of the World, claimed it had paid middleman Mazhar Majeed 150,000 pounds for exact details of three deliberate no-balls in the match.
But Malik said video evidence of the sting was not conclusive.
"Video an be fake... we will believe it only when we have an authentic report that can stand the test of a court of law."
Read more: Pakistan minister hints at 'conspiracy' - Top Stories - Cricket - Sports - The Times of India
Pakistan minister hints at 'conspiracy' - Top Stories - Cricket - Sports - The Times of India