Pakistan cricketers in England for spot fixing trial

A jury was selected Tuesday for the trial of former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif on charges relating to spot fixing.

The pair deny conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments during Pakistan's 2010 tour of England.

The case centres on allegations made in a newspaper investigation that they received money for deliberately bowling no-balls during the fourth Test against in August 2010, when Butt was captain.

Butt sat in the dock alongside Asif behind a glass screen at Southwark Crown Court as the jury was selected.

The trial is due to start on Wednesday when the opening arguments will be heard.

Accepting corrupt payments is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and carries a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Cheating is an offence under the Gambling Act 2005 and carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir and players' agent Mazhar Majeed have also been charged but are not required to appear in court.

The original investigation was conducted by Mazher Mahmood, a former undercover reporter for Britain's News of the World newspaper.

A spiralling phone hacking scandal led to the closure of Rupert Murdoch's Sunday tabloid in July.