A Damaging Blow to Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif

Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were convicted of fixing parts of a test match by a British court on Tuesday. A jury at London's Southwark Crown Court found former captain Butt guilty of both counts of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments as part of a betting scam. The sentences will be pronounced by the judge, Justice Cooke, on Wednesday and Thursday; both players will remain on bail until then. Asif was found guilty of a single count of conspiracy to cheat and was charged with having accepted cash. Butt was banned for 10 years, five of which are suspended, Amir was banned for five years and Asif was given a seven-year ban, with two suspended.