By Gary Fitzgerald 5/09/2010
Pakistan's Test opener sparks new match-fixing storm on the day that skipper Shahid Afridi finally says..
Shahid Afridi has issued a shock apology over the alleged "spot-fixing" scandal which has rocked cricket.
The Pakistan One-day captain said "sorry" on behalf of the three players caught up in the ugly Lord's controversy.
Pakistan captain Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were charged by the ICC under their anti-corruption code and provisionally suspended a f t e r a l l e g at i o n s o f deliberately bowling "no balls" in the Fourth Test.
The players - dropped for the rest of the tour - were released without charge by police after being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation into whether they accepted money from agent and businessman Mazhar Majeed.
Until yesterday, the Pakistanis have refused to condemn the players, insisting they are innocent until proven guilty.
And they have even tried to claim the whole saga a being a set-up.
But, as Pakistan prepared for today's first Twenty20 clash with England in Cardiff, Afridi revealed the first sign of remorse.
He insisted: "It is very bad news. On behalf of the players, I want to say sorry to cricket lovers in all cricketing nations.
"People are very upset and despondent.
"The only thing we can do now is play good cricket.
"That's all we can do.
"I've told the boys 'don't read the newspapers'.
"I know they are very upset."
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Howeve r, t h e tourists were rocked last night by the allgeation from Yasir Hameed that match-fixing had been going on throughout their visit to England this summer.
Yasir, 32, played in the third Test at The Oval. He claimed last night: "It makes me angry because I'm playing my best and they are trying to lose.
"They've been caught. Only the ones that get caught are branded crooks."
He added: "They were doing it in almost every match.
"God knows what they were up to. Scotland Yard was after them for ages."
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis revealed Butt, Asif and Amir could still be a part of future Pakistan squads, insisting: "I am not sure what is going to happen, but if they are cleared they will always be welcome back. It is a big loss to the Pakistan cricket team. It's been a hard week for us. It's has been very difficult to re-focus them again.
"The support staff and Shahid Afridi are working very hard to stop people thinking about anything else.
"It is pretty sad what has happened and has been tough on everyone, not just me but the entire team, management and back home.
"We must now try and win the series so that it will take away some of the sadness from the team and the country. It's important the boys charge up now and deliver.
"We have plenty of security around. And we are trying to make sure the players don't mix with any strangers around the hotel because the situation is pretty bad.
"We want them to try to sort it out and forget what happened."
CROYDON ATHLETIC FC - owned by Mazhar Majeed, the man at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal - last night announced changes to their managerial team.
A statement on the club's website revealed that manager Tom O'Shea and assistant Neil Smith have left with immedate effect.
Follow Daily Mirror cricket correspondent Dean Wilson on Twitter at CricketMirror
Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/2010/09/05/pakistan-skipper-shahid-afridi-finally-says-sorry-115875-22538485/#ixzz0yf10ybi1
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