Spot-fixing case: Mohd. Asif tells court Butt's swearing caused him to overstep

London, Oct 21(ANI): Tainted Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif has attributed his allegedly pre-determined no-ball in last year's Lord's Test to the verbal abuse he received before the delivery from the then captain Salman Butt.

Asif testified for the first time in the ongoing spot-fixing case hearing on the 12th day of the proceedings at London's Southwark Crown Court.

Butt and Asif are facing "charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, and also conspiracy to cheat" following the Lord's Test when they allegedly conspired with their agent Mazhar Majeed and fast-bowler Mohammad Amir to bowl pre-planned no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges.

Asif's lawyer, Alexander Milne, discussed the 10th over at Lord's, in which the fast-bowler's questionable no-ball was delivered.

Milne asked Asif if anything was said to him during the over, to which the bowler responded by revealing how Butt had verbally abused him.

"He said run faster, and went on to say something like 'haven't you slept?' I think Butt was saying things that made me lose concentration," The Express Tribune quoted Asif, as saying.

Milne then asked Asif whether Butt's comment were said in a funny way, pointing out that swear words can sometimes be used in a non-casual, friendly way.

"No, it wasn't friendly. It was unfriendly for a captain to speak like that to me, especially with my position in the rankings," Asif replied.

Milne also established through Asif's answers during the court proceedings that he had minimal contact with Mazhar. Although his older brother, Azhar Majeed, acted as his unsigned agent from 2006, he did not meet Mazhar until May last year.

Asif also claimed that former News of the World journalist Mazhar Mahmood met him on two occasions after the scandal broke, even though Mahmood had denied any such meeting.

Asif claimed that Mahmood had introduced himself as solicitor Imran Sheikh, offering to help him and asked him questions about the scandal. The fast-bowler claimed that Sheikh had later met him in Lahore as well.

The case continues. (ANI)