The world of cricket plunged into another match-fixing crisis as the Metropolitan Police arrested London-based Mazhar Majeed who allegedly lured Pakistani fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to deliver three blatant no-balls in the ongoing Lord’s Test against England. British police say that a man arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of match-fixing by Pakistan players in their test match against England has been released and bailed without charge.

In a sting operation conducted by The News of the World, it was revealed that Mazhar received some 150,000 pounds from the tabloid and promised the undercover reporter that the fast bowlers will bowl no-balls at the agreed moment of the game.

On the basis of video evidence given by the tabloid, Scotland Yard launched their own investigation into the scandal. Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed confirmed that Scotland Yard police officials had questioned him and several players in connection with match -fixing allegations.

The police officials were in the team hotel and recording statements from captain Salman Butt, Asif, Aamir and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

“They have also spoken to me and I have tried to answer their queries. We will cooperate all the way with them in these investigations,” Yawar was quoted as saying by Pakistani channel Geo TV.

Yawar denied media reports that the officers had confiscated mobile phones and laptops or that they had found money stashed in players’ rooms.

“That is not correct, but we are also in touch with our high commission in London and cooperating with the police.”

Amir and Asif delivered three no-balls in the Test against England Thursday and Friday at the historic Lord’s.

In a statement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said: “The ICC, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been informed by the Metropolitan Police that a 35-year-old man has been arrested Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

“The Metropolitan Police have informed the ICC, ECB and PCB that their investigations continue and ICC, ECB and PCB, with the involvement of the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit, are fully assisting those enquiries.

“No players nor team officials have been arrested in relation to this incident and the 4th npower Test match will continue as scheduled on Sunday. As this is now subject to a police investigation, neither ICC, ECB, PCB nor the ground authority, the MCC, will make any further comment.”

Taking serious note of the ’spot-fixing’ scandal that rocked Pakistan cricket team in the ongoing fourth Test against England in London, President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday asked for an immediate preliminary report from PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt into the allegations.

The President’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar said in a statement that Zardari was disappointed over the media reports of fixing allegations against some Pakistani players.

“The President, taking note of the reports, has directed that he should be kept posted about the developments as to what happened and what is the status of any inquiry that may have been ordered or held in London,” he said.

“The PCB chairman has been directed to immediately submit a preliminary report about the incident,” he added in the statement.

Zardari, in his capacity as Chief Patron, directly nominates the PCB chairman and despite repeated criticism, he has kept faith in his nominee Ijaz Butt who was appointed in October two years ago.

The Federal Sports Minister Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani said the government was concerned by the media reports about players involvement in ’spot-fixing’.

The minister said that PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt will meet International Cricket Council officials in London today to discuss the issue.

“It is disappointing and a matter of concern but we are waiting for a report from the board on this incident before we can do anything,” he said.

Jakhrani said that the government’s priority now was to ensure that the players returned home and are not arrested by the London Metropolitan Police if the allegations against them turned out to be true.

“We will take action once we get a report but I can assure you if any player is found guilty of such corruption he will be banned for life,” he said.

The two Pakistanis who bowled no-balls allegedly on directions from Majeed were Asif and Aamir. Both bowlers delivered three no-balls on Thursday and Friday.

The two bowlers delivered the no-balls “at precisely the moments promised to our reporter,” the tabloid said.

“Our undercover team was posing as front men for a Far East gambling cartel. In return for their suitcase of money Majeed then calmly detailed what would happen - and when - on the field of play next day, as a taster of all the lucrative information he could supply in future,” it reported.